If you’ve ever been stuck driving behind a car that’s illegally stopped during rush hour in Toronto, you’ll know how quickly one vehicle can bring downtown traffic to a standstill.
To tackle the chaos, the City of Toronto and Toronto police launched a two-week enforcement blitz last month, targeting drivers who ignore “no stopping” signs. The campaign yielded significant results.
Parking enforcement officers were out in full force from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, patrolling key routes where illegal stops regularly cause traffic backups and safety issues. That included areas near TTC stops, crosswalks, fire hydrants, and narrow corridors, where even a brief halt can cause significant problems.
According to a press release from Toronto police on Monday, officers issued 3,220 tickets and towed 245 vehicles from high-traffic areas in the downtown core between June 16 and June 27, 2025.
The fine for stopping in one of these zones is $190, and that’s before the cost of getting your vehicle towed.
Here’s how it broke down:
- Week 1 (June 16–20): 1,760 tickets issued and 133 vehicles towed.
- Week 2 (June 23–27): 1,460 tickets issued and 112 vehicles towed.
This blitz was part of a larger effort under Toronto’s Congestion Management Plan, designed to keep traffic flowing by cracking down on habits that cause the city to come to a halt. Earlier this year, the City Council approved two dedicated no stopping blitzes, one in June and another scheduled for September.
While this latest sweep is over, enforcement is still ongoing. Toronto police says officers will continue to target key corridors, especially during rush hour, and City staff will review the results to inform future actions.
Even stopping for “just a sec” can cost you big. So, follow the signs and you’ll avoid a nasty ticket.
If you want to know where Toronto’s no stopping zones are, check out the City’s website.
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