Hidden fire hydrant a parking ticket hot spot
Across from Christie Pits, hedge leaves drivers unaware
Finding a $100 ticket on your car for parking in front of a hidden fire hydrant is a sure way to spoil your day.
And when it’s across the street from Christie Pits, as busy an inner-city park as any, there is an endless supply of chumps to be fleeced by parking cops who know the hydrant can’t be seen.
We reported last winter on two hydrants on University Ave. that are so far back from the curb they’re easily overlooked.
They were netting the city more money in parking tickets than any other spots in the city.
Our columns caught the eye of Mayor John Tory, who thought it outrageous that parking enforcement knew they were ticket traps, but constantly hovered nearby to make sure they issued as many $100 tickets as possible.
Tory flexed some mayoral muscle and persuaded city staff to put up signs to warn drivers, a big setback for parking cops accustomed to fattening their quotas by feasting on the low-hanging fruit.
There’s a similar situation on Barton Ave., north of Bloor St., where drivers are suckered into parking in front of a hy- drant that is obscured by a hedge.
The victims include Gary Marcus, who emailed us to “pass on a warning about a hydrant on the north side of Barton, just west of Christie, where the hydrant is obscured by front lawn bushes.”
“Shame on the city for allowing $100 parking tickets to be issued in this spot, where the hydrant is completely hidden.”
Marcus would “love to fight this ticket, but it does not appear to be worth our time, parking expense and lost employment to do so,” he said, adding, “there should definitely be a post erected to indicate a hydrant.
“I hope that other unsuspecting motorists can be made aware of this to avoid this cash grab.” Status: A city bylaw requires property owners to keep hedges, plants and greenery trimmed back so that hydrants can clearly be seen. We’ve asked the city’s right-of-way management to enforce the bylaw, or at least arrange for a small sign to be attached to the hydrant that can be seen above the hedge. The mayor would no doubt approve. What’s broken in your neighbourhood? Wherever you are in Greater Toronto, we want to know. To contact us, go to thestar.com/yourtoronto/the_fixer, call us at 416-869-4823 or email jlakey@thestar.ca. To read our blog, go to thestar.com/news/ the_fixer. Report problems and follow us on Twitter @TOStarFixer.