I was out and about this week. My journey found me somewhat “downtown” Toronto. This particular incident found me near Yonge and Sheppard (in fact on a little street that runs north from Sheppard parallel to Yonge). This is all a very busy area on a weekday and I understand, in general, the need for the parking officers to ply their trade.
Now I wasn’t worried about parking at this particular time — I had no intention of parking. But I did have an important phone call to answer. One that would occupy my thoughts and which could even require me making reference to some notes on my laptop. I have a hands-free set for use in the car and for most conversations I feel that I’m likely more aware of the road while on a phone call than many otherwise distracted Toronto drivers. However, I also know my limits and I decided to pull over to give this call my full attention.
I pulled over on this side street ahead of a line of parked cars. I could have parked there, should I have needed to. Parking was legal for that place and time of day with Toronto’s pay and display one-meter-per-street system. I was not, however, parking. I shut off the engine, I took my call.
While on the call, a parking officer arrived and knocked on my window. He told me that I needed to buy a parking chit. I informed him politely that I was not parking, that I was on a phone call and that I’d appreciate no further interruptions. He proceeded to ticket a few other cars on the street (I am still aware enough of my surroundings while on a call to keep tabs on him).
Roughly 10 minutes later he returns and tickets me for parking without displaying a receipt. This is wrong for so many reasons.
- As a matter of principle, not parking is not parking.
- As a matter of public policy, giving tickets for stopping in this manner could encourage people to idle around the block while they waited for someone.
- As another matter of public policy, people who pull over to have a telephone conversation should be given every encouragement to do so if we are serious about calling drivers out for their (lack of) attention.
Of course I have already disputed the parking ticket. I have also lodged a complaint with the Toronto Police Service. I have also left these details with some folks at the CBC hoping that they might pick up the story. Giving me this ticket was wrong-headed and I believe that it needs to be properly corrected.
I would think that parking would include leaving your car unoccupied. If you are still in your car, it’s not parked.
I see this often as I wait for Mom at a grocery mega-plex. People will *park* in the fire lane and run in, leaving the vehicle there unoccupied. Yet little if anything is ever done about this. If I am waiting, I pull in to the fire lane, but I will always (says he self-righteously) remain with the vehicle so if needed, I can move it instantly. If I decide to go in and find Mom, I will *park* in a regular slot.
As I recall, Toronto has lots of streets where signs are posted saying “no stopping”, the distinguishing factor of which behaviour is a motionless car with a driver still inside (presumably waiting for a potential passenger to emerge from somewhere). The next-up sign is “no standing”, which prohibits even the above behaviour. (This I suppose would encourage block-circling, or idling slowly.)
And there’s certainly need for those signs, but they did not apply to where I stopped. They are possibly overused and they do possibly encourage some block-circling, although I suppose you only have to circle far enough to locate a place where stopping is permitted.… which is why not allowing a stopped occupied car in a “parking” zone is ludicrous. If you examine Toronto, there are no unsigned roadsides from Bathurst over to Warden from the waterfront to St. Clair. This is an awfully large region in which to forbid or discourage a roadside stop.
I think you have a good case to beat that ticket. Just get yourself a good definition and go from there.
I think so too. I’ve beaten plenty of tickets. Unfortunately, it’s mostly due to the incompetence of the parking officers than my own courtroom arguments.
Perry Mason you’re not …
Well… no, and good thing too. In fact, the “Perry Mason” moment is that which happens in a Perry Mason drama that could never happen within a courtroom. Being synonymous with the impossible tactic is not desirable.
Have you gotten resolution to that “parking” ticket?
The next action involves you receiving a paper mail regarding it.