Fighting a parking ticket in Vaughan and the need for parking signage | GTAMotorcycle.com

Fighting a parking ticket in Vaughan and the need for parking signage

M

MarcosSantiago

Well-known member
I got a parking ticket in Vaughan in December. I decided to fight it because there was no parking signs anywhere on the street.

I met with the City of Vaughan's "Enforcement Services Department" last week. The lady explained that I got ticketed because no vehicle can park on a "highway for a longer period of time than three hours between 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m., except as set out in Schedule “A”< Part 7, Columns 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Vaughan’s parking by-law".

I explained that there are no signs anywhere on the street indicating the time restriction, so I could not possibly know the 3-hour limit, but she answered telling me that the City of Vaughan has a "No signs required" clause on the by-laws, so they don’t have to put any signs anywhere. But they can ticket cars that are parked improperly.

Ticket was reduced from $35 to $15. I paid and I left, but I want to complain to someone. I think signs are required! Just like in Toronto. Otherwise, how could a driver know fire lanes, time restrictions, permit restrictions, overnight restrictions, etc. etc. etc.

Does anyone know why is the City of Toronto posting parking signs? Is there a provincial (or even federal) requirement to post signage? If there is a requirement, Vaughan is not meeting it. Maybe the lack of signs is to save money?

Do you know of any other city that is not posting parking signage?
 
MarcosSantiago said:
Does anyone know why is the City of Toronto posting parking signs? Is there a provincial (or even federal) requirement to post signage? If there is a requirement, Vaughan is not meeting it. Maybe the lack of signs is to save money?

Do you know of any other city that is not posting parking signage?
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My understanding is cities have 'overall' parking rules that apply without a need for signage - here's Toronto:

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Q.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]What are the rules for parking on the street in Toronto?[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]A.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]In the City of Toronto, a three-hour limit exists on public roads where no other parking regulations are posted. Signs advising visitors to the city of this regulation are posted at the access points to the city and when exiting from a Provincial highway. It is very important, therefore, to check signage before parking on any street in Toronto.[/FONT]

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Precisely. Most municipalities have blanket bylaws with respect to parking. Depending upon where you actually park you may not receive a ticket, unless there's a specific complaint. You'll almost certainly receive a ticket on unsigned major roadways.

In most cases such bylaws are announced on the "Entering the City of XXXXX" signs that you see, as you're entering the jurisdiction on major roads. If this isn't the case for Vaughan, then I would certainly suggest making a complaint to City Hall. After all, no one can know the bylaws of every town they drive through.
 
Yes this is how many cities and towns now deal with parking they put "general guideline" signs at city entrance roads, and that is all that is required.

There are no provincial or federal regulations as signage and parking are bylaws. Therefore, the city writes the bylaw and unless challenged and ruled unconstitutional by a court the bylaw stands. If they have a signage exemption in their parking bylaw then they need not post signs.

When going to a new place I just assume, (as it does in many places), the "three hour rule applies unless there are other signs stating otherwise.
 
On a quick Streetview search, i only found signs that prohibited overnight parking between 2AM and 6AM.

http://goo.gl/maps/GKvSX
http://goo.gl/maps/xXIdJ
http://goo.gl/maps/uwl6e

City of Newmarket is a little better with their signage as you enter the city.

http://goo.gl/maps/XtdYb

l0qr.jpg
 
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Thank you all. So it seems that the lack of signs is not the big issue I thought it was.

However, I could argue that the crappy signs that they have posted at the various entrances to the city are not clear enough to inform anyone of parking rules within Vaughan.

Oh well.

iFly55 said:
On a quick Streetview search, i only found signs that prohibited overnight parking between 2AM and 6AM.

http://goo.gl/maps/GKvSX
http://goo.gl/maps/xXIdJ
http://goo.gl/maps/uwl6e

City of Newmarket is a little better with their signage.

http://goo.gl/maps/XtdYb

l0qr.jpg
Click to expand...
 
mississauga has signs posted at strategic places and main entrances to the city...

big_3_hour_parking_sign.JPG


Parking Enforcement Officers enforce the City's Traffic By-law which clearly stipulates that a vehicle may NOT be parked on the street:

  • Between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. from November 1 to March 31; and
  • For more than three (3) hours at a time
Parking By-law signs for the above offences are posted on every roadway entering the City of Mississauga.These By-laws are City-wide unless posted otherwise.
Click to expand...
 
Can you imagine the size of the billboard at the city limits if every law had to be listed?

Can you imagine the traffic jams if people stopped to read them?
 
Too many people have complained creatively about laws not being clear. So they need to create the signage so there's a line that no one can argue against.
 
JFD said:
Too many people have complained creatively about laws not being clear. So they need to create the signage so there's a line that no one can argue against.
Click to expand...

Except under British "common law" principles, (which is what our "justice system" overall), utilizes there is a saying. "ignorance of the law is no excuse"

In other words, just because you don't know a specific law that is no defence against a conviction. Now having said that I agree with your premise. unfortunately parking regs come under a bylaw, (municipal jurisdiction). If they came under provincial jurisdiction, then it would be simple, create one statue which simply states no more than three hour parking on ANY road in the province unless signed to the contrary.

BUT that would also cost a crap load of money for a city to sign each area, (like say a residential street), which does permit overnight parking etc.
 
I live in Vaughan. That law has bit some of my neighbours in the past, just for parking outside their own homes. It would be better understood if it was enforced regularly, but the bylaw officers strike about twice a year and make a killing.

Like ken all things government, it's a cash grab.
 
1304cc said:
I live in Vaughan. That law has bit some of my neighbours in the past, just for parking outside their own homes. It would be better understood if it was enforced regularly, but the bylaw officers strike about twice a year and make a killing.

Like ken all things government, it's a cash grab.
Click to expand...

Same here in Brampton. They are extremely inconsistent.
 
As I stated previously, they generally only ticket when they receive a complaint. I'm also in Brampton, where this is definitely so.
 
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