Toronto drivers caught blocking intersections, widely known as “blocking the box,” will soon face higher fines.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and the city’s deputy mayor will announce increased fines to deter box blocking at 11 a.m. on King Street West and University Avenue.
City council previously approved a motion asking the province for permission to charge drivers $450 if they block an intersection, up from $85. If the driver is in a community safety zone, the penalty would go up from $120 to $500.
The city is also considering ways to increase enforcement, as few tickets are issued under the box-blocking bylaw.
“Blocking the box” occurs when a vehicle enters an intersection and cannot make it through on a green light due to traffic ahead. In turn, it prevents vehicles travelling in other directions from moving through the intersection once they have the right of way.
TPS Traffic Services has said that to avoid “box blocking,” drivers should do their best to wait outside the intersection until they can completely clear it before entering.