Make the ‘hogs’ pay

Consider it phase two of Toronto’s common-sense crackdown on “curb hogs.” They’re the self-centred drivers who slow traffic and inconvenience others by ignoring rules on where to park.

To make them change their inconsiderate ways the city is more than doubling fines for certain types of illegal parking. Increased penalties kicked in this week and, if these fail to change scofflaws’ behaviour, they should be boosted even more.

Starting Thursday, fines jumped to $150 for blocking sidewalks, double parking, standing in a designated transit zone and blocking a high occupancy vehicle lane. Previous penalties for these offences ranged from $40 to $60.

This isn’t just a cash grab; it’s meant to reduce gridlock. “By attaching a real price to blocking lanes of traffic with illegal parking, we will reduce congestion,” promises Mayor John Tory.

The changes follow an earlier initiative that boosted fines for offences such as parking in a no-stopping zone during rush hour. There was evidence that some stubborn rule-breakers were responding by blocking sidewalks and double parking on side-streets. Now increased penalties are catching up with them.

But fines pose a poor deterrent if they go uncollected. As reported by the Star’s Stephen Spencer Davis, the city cancelled about 880,000 parking tickets last September due to an overburdened court system. Efforts should be made to ensure this doesn’t happen again. These people don’t deserve a break.

Rude drivers who insist on stealing public space and robbing other urban travellers of time and convenience should pay a price — and a heavy one — for their thoughtlessness.