The City hopes to collect $62 million from ticketing vehicles parked in electric vehicle charging stations and not charging.
The City of Toronto is looking at having parking enforcement officers issue $75 tickets to motorists illegally parked in electric vehicle charging zones.
The Infrastructure and Environment is considering a penalty for motorists who park in electric vehicle charging stations in municipal, on-street and off-street electric parking facilities.
A Transportation Committee has recommended that signs be erected stating Electric Vehicle Parking Space, which will make it a ticketable offence if used by motorists who are not charging their vehicles.
A $75 ticket is being proposed for vehicles parked in an electric vehicle charging station and not actively charging.
The Committee is seeking to have parking by-laws amended to include electric vehicles.
“No person shall park a vehicle in an electric vehicle parking space in a car-park unless the vehicle is an electric vehicle that is actively connected to the electric vehicle charging station,” according to the proposed bylaw.
The change will be considered by the Infrastructure Committee on February 27 and full City Council on March 20.
Parking enforcement officers are not allowed to now ticket vehicles parked in charging stations without charging due to antiquated by-laws.
Council is also being asked to authorize the City Solicitor make necessary changes so the ticketing can be carried out legally.
Transportation Services has been working with City agencies to review the parking violation notices issued by the City of Toronto and has looked at several Canadian municipalities to compare similar offences and their penalty amounts to those of Toronto.
Transportation officials recommend Council increase the penalties for 123 offences associated with no ‘parking, stopping and standing’ violations.
The penalties will ‘match those of other jurisdictions, encourage compliance, reflect the seriousness of the offence and that all penalty amounts for the violation remain consistent.’
Currently, Parking Enforcement officers cannot ticket or penalize motorists for parking improperly in electric charging stations due to a lack of municipal or provincial regulations.
City by-laws, fines and regulations are being worked out so the improper use of electric vehicle charging stations tickets can begin.
“This absence of regulatory provisions restricts parking facility operators from ticketing non-electric vehicle’s parking in designated electric vehicle charging spaces, or ticketing electric vehicles parked in designated electric vehicle charging spaces that are not actively charging,” according to the proposal.
It is estimated the City can collect up to $62 million in revenue yearly from tickets issued to motorists illegally parked by not charging in electric vehicle charging stations.
The fines will apply to on and off street and municipal electric charging vehicle stations.
“The Parking Enforcement Unit (PEU) of Toronto Police Service will experience additional financial and operational impacts when the implementation of the parking penalty increases come into effect,” according to the proposal.
The proposal said the PEU will require $150,000 from City funds this year to purchase about 400,000 updated parking tickets as the current stock will be outdated with old penalty amounts.
Proposed is a $75 ticket for a new offence of parking of a vehicle in an EV parking space other than a vehicle not actively engaged in a charging session.
The City of Toronto has about 2,200 public Level 2 and 3 charging station ports. Some 96 per cent of the ports are Level 2 and 39 per cent offer free charges for your EV.