City Council considering $150 parking fines during rush hour

The public works committee voted 3-2 Wednesday in favour of hiking the fine for motorists, including couriers, who park in bike lanes or on busy streets during rush hour. If approved by council next month, the penalty — up from $40 and $60 depending on the zone — would be among the toughest in North America. Committee members agreed parking enforcement officers, part of the Toronto police service, currently don’t tag enough of the offenders. Some say ticket-issuing targets imposed on officers push them to expired meters and side streets with multiple offenders, rather than single vehicles blocking actual traffic. (Yeah, it's easier to ticket outside Starbucks, fill your quota and go home.)