Is it illegal to park the car between sidewalk and roadside?

[kiasu]

Question:
A friend of mine got a ticket this morning. I thought it's legal to park horinzontal between sidewalk and roadside as long as the whole car doesnt even touch over the sidewalk, roadside and lawn? He lives in Scarborough. His car is perfectly in the spot of the 'legal' path. The fine is $50 :mad:

He has been doing it for over a year and this is the first time he receives the ticket. Scratching his head.

Anyone has any info or advise or number or experience? Thank you.

[COSMIC5]

call city hall, in my town we can park horizontal on the driveway between the sidewalk and road, with no problem..

[bobbings]

Markham allows it as long as the tires are not touching the road or the sidewalk.

Not sure about Scarborough but when I used to live in Scarborough, the streets around my area always had cars on the boulevard as well as on the side of the curb. Rarely would anyone get tickets.

Each municipality is different.

[nano]

if a neighbor calls and complains, you will get a ticket. i spoke with a parking enforcement officer a few months ago, he said to me and i quote " we only come out to Scarborough when we get parking complaints" f'in BS if you ask me. I dont think the city should get involved with parking complaints like that.

[Tig]

The only time that I have ever heard of someone getting a ticket for being parked like this is when a neighbor called and complained...

[kiasu]

if a neighbor calls and complains, you will get a ticket. i spoke with a parking enforcement officer a few months ago, he said to me and i quote " we only come out to Scarborough when we get parking complaints" f'in BS if you ask me. I dont think the city should get involved with parking complaints like that.

The only time that I have ever heard of someone getting a ticket for being parked like this is when a neighbor called and complained...

What? Called and complainted? That doesnt make sense at all. That parking space doesnt belong to them and my friend does nothing illegal. OMG, this is getting ridiculous..

Thankx for all the info. answer.

[Tig]

They called because they said that their kids, who were riding around on bikes on the sidewalks were being obstructed by the car. The part that I didn't get is that it didn't look like the car was even touching the side walk. Definitely sounded fishy, but it did happen.

[B0000rt]

What? Called and complainted? That doesnt make sense at all. That parking space doesnt belong to them and my friend does nothing illegal. OMG, this is getting ridiculous..

Thankx for all the info. answer.
And the land between the sidewalk and the curb isn't owned by the homeowner either.......

[nano]

And the land between the sidewalk and the curb isn't owned by the homeowner either.......

you may not own it but you are responsible for the upkeep. i personally think the city shouldn't give you a ticket for your neighbors pity complaints.

[xstatik]

They called because they said that their kids, who were riding around on bikes on the sidewalks were being obstructed by the car. The part that I didn't get is that it didn't look like the car was even touching the side walk. Definitely sounded fishy, but it did happen.

Fight fire with fire. Call the cops/city/bylaw whoever as soon as you see them do anything questionable.
A good one would be if you ever see a Home Depot truck/renovation garbage/empty paint cans etc. call the bylaw to get an inspector to shut down their work for working without a permit.
There are many things you can probabily ding them on.
Or, worse comes to worse. Call crimestoppers and report suspicious activity and that you believe that they might be running a grow-op. That should teach them to interfere with your rights to park your car!

[tjayl]

Or, worse comes to worse. Call crimestoppers and report suspicious activity and that you believe that they might be running a grow-op. That should teach them to interfere with your rights to park your car!

That's seriously your advice? Wasting police time and tax-payer money by making false police reports?

[ES_Revenge]

It's called parking on the "boulevard" and no you can't do it in most jurisdictions. It makes no sense to me provided you are neither on the sidewalk or the road, but that's the way the law is anyway--cash grab really. There is the argument that emergency vehicles may not be able to get to you in an emergency but then what if your driveway is parked up with cars anyway? Not like that short distance is really going to make a difference to an emergency vehicle there--they do have to get out of their vehicles to help you anyway right?

Most times in quiet residential neighbourhoods where parking isn't an issue, tickets are only given out when some busybody calls parking enforcement and complains, which seems to be exactly what happened here. Regardless of that though, against the law it is and subject to a ticket and fine you are, when you break it...

[kiasu]

Thankx ES_Revenge and everyone. Sigh, if this is true..then my friend need to rent a parking space from neighbour. But it's strange that he has been parking his car there for nearly a year and now only got the ticket? I checked his ticket and the code is 338 which I couldnt find it online as well.

This rule doesnt make sense at all, then why not 'cant park your car in front of the house'...geee.... Anyway to file a complaint?

[mr_raider]

They called because they said that their kids, who were riding around on bikes on the sidewalks were being obstructed by the car.

You should remind them that cyclists must ride on the road, in the direction of traffic, and heed all the signs :cheesygri

[kiasu]

All right guys, I called City Hall this morning and confirmed that it's illegal to park between sidewalk and the road. The lady I was talking to was damn unfriendly and unpolite.

Yet..the city owns that piece of space and we need to shovel the snow/cut the grass for them? Where do our money go? Arent they suppose to DO for us since they own it and we PAY them with our damn TAXes.

This city - Toronto is getting sux and ridiculous...I mean those city councillors

And yeah..D. Miller sux too :mad:

Thankx again everyone for your input and comment.

[B0000rt]

All right guys, I called City Hall this morning and confirmed that it's illegal to park between sidewalk and the road. The lady I was talking to was damn unfriendly and unpolite.

Yet..the city owns that piece of space and we need to shovel the snow/cut the grass for them? Where do our money go? Arent they suppose to DO for us since they own it and we PAY them with our damn TAXes.

This city - Toronto is getting sux and ridiculous...I mean those city councillors

And yeah..D. Miller sux too :mad:

Thankx again everyone for your input and comment.

Did you miss post #8 or what?

The city puts down a curb for you.. The city puts lamp posts for you. The city puts fire hydrants for you. Bell Canada installs remote COs for you. The city also puts in a sidewalk there for you. And also plans trees there for you.

Be glad the amount of Property taxes you pay. In other cities, the property taxes are crazy, 1-2-3% of the house value. Imagine paying 3% on a $500,000 house every year.

[kin0kin]

Which part of the city do you live in? I'm not sure if it's illegal to park at the sidewalk, but at my place (west of yonge, north of finch) cars park at the sidewalk all the time. I park just right under the lamp post since it helps deter thieves (yeah i know if hurricane hits TO and the lamp post falls down, my car would be a POS) :p But every wed night, you'd need to move your car into the driveway since the waste collectors will be here in the morning next day. And of course, you wouldn't wanna park at the sidewalk in the winter.

One thing I was told is that, when parking at the sidewalk, your car has to face the driving direction or you can be ticketed. I didn't know that before I was told. Since I always drive west when heading home, and my place is on the left, I just park at the side facing the other way :lol: It is a quiet neighborhood btw.

[at1212b]

Remember, nobody really Owns their house or land. They own the rights and use of it, which also falls under the jurisdiction of applicable laws outlining and governing its use.

This is why although you have 'bought' it, you can't just do as you please, just because you pay your property taxes (which is basically a tax on the perpetual rights to use that 'paid' land). Now, I'm not saying every cent is justified, just trying to explain the logic behind it.

Which also explains why you have to shovel your sidewalk, basic upkeep, getting ticketed for on the street/blvd in front of you, etc. and have to apply for permits for changes, renovations.

[kiasu]

Did you miss post #8 or what?

The city puts down a curb for you.. The city puts lamp posts for you. The city puts fire hydrants for you. Bell Canada installs remote COs for you. The city also puts in a sidewalk there for you. And also plans trees there for you.

Be glad the amount of Property taxes you pay. In other cities, the property taxes are crazy, 1-2-3% of the house value. Imagine paying 3% on a $500,000 house every year.

With the amount of money I paid, I rather live in Markham/Richmond Hill than Toronto. I am not saying they r not doing good job but some rules just doesnt make sense. Furthermore, look at the D.Miller keeps craving for money. Toronto so "poor"? I dont think so..it's because these city counsillors spending money without any control...those are our money.


One thing I was told is that, when parking at the sidewalk, your car has to face the driving direction or you can be ticketed.

Not at the sidewalk...it's the space between sidewalk and the road which they called it "boulevard"

Remember, nobody really Owns their house or land. They own the rights and use of it, which also falls under the jurisdiction of applicable laws outlining and governing its use.
.

You mean freehold vs leasehold? I thought freehold means your own that piece of land and the gov has no right to take back..

[at1212b]

You mean freehold vs leasehold? I thought freehold means your own that piece of land and the gov has no right to take back..

You don't own the actual the land, you can hold the RIGHTS to the land in perptuity, meaning the government cannot take it back.

Read again:

"which is basically a tax on the perpetual rights to use that 'paid' land"

but you still don't own the actual thing. There are still rules and laws you have to follow. They are not that imposing but they are still there which is why its not a free for all and 'anything' goes even for your 'OWN' land.

[B0000rt]

You don't own the actual the land, you can hold the RIGHTS to the land in perptuity, meaning the government cannot take it back.

Read again:

"which is basically a tax on the perpetual rights to use that 'paid' land"

but you still don't own the actual thing. There are still rules and laws you have to follow. They are not that imposing but they are still there which is why its not a free for all and 'anything' goes even for your 'OWN' land.

Unless you separate from your country and create the land of Petoria hah

[xstatik]

That's seriously your advice? Wasting police time and tax-payer money by making false police reports?

Well it obvious that there is wasted time by the Toronto Parking Enforcement comming out to give these BS tickets!

[tjayl]

Well it obvious that there is wasted time by the Toronto Parking Enforcement comming out to give these BS tickets!

Simply not agreeing with something (in this case a parking regulation) does not make the ticket any less valid or a BS ticket. The rule is you can't park like that. If you choose to you run the risk of getting a ticket. Can you explain how it's BS?
Also the time isn't wasted for parking enforcement to come out, as they have a valid reason to be there (someone parking improperly). However, you suggesting reporting criminal activity that isn't happening to get even is a waste of time for police to come out and investigate this non-existant criminal activity. And actually, your suggesting is a crime (false police reports). Potentially harassment as well.

[Carnage]

One thing I was told is that, when parking at the sidewalk, your car has to face the driving direction or you can be ticketed. I didn't know that before I was told. Since I always drive west when heading home, and my place is on the left, I just park at the side facing the other way :lol: It is a quiet neighborhood btw.

That's correct, you can get a ticket for parking facing the wrong way.

I got a parking ticket last year in Vaughn for that. I had parked at a friends place while we went to Wonderland. (quiet side street). Got a ticket because I had parked facing the wrong way. The exact wording on the ticket was something like "parked with left wheels against curb".