‘We’re going to fine you’: City announces harsh ‘blocking the box’ penalties in Toronto

Toronto drivers caught blocking intersections, widely known as “blocking the box,” will soon face much steeper fines.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and the city’s deputy mayor, Jennifer McKelvie, announced increased fines to deter box blocking at 11 a.m. on King Street West and University Avenue.

City council previously approved a motion brought forward by McKelvie 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. These fines were formally approved on Monday.

“Everyone on our roads has seen a driver trapped in between an intersection,” McKelvie said at the press conference. “Today, we are taking concrete action to tackle drivers blocking the box.”

McKelvie said that while raising the fines is critical, it isn’t the only deterrent to “blocking the box” offenders. The city is also considering ways to increase enforcement, as few tickets are issued under the box-blocking bylaw.

The city has begun to roll out signage at key intersections in the downtown core. McKelvie said fines will be handed out city wide.

“We know high fines work. We have seen that with texting and driving.”

Chow laments drivers who choose to ‘block the box’

Mayor Chow noted that the amount of events occurring in the city results in unavoidable traffic, but “blocking the box” is not something that will be tolerated.

“When the light changes, everybody is stuck. No one is going anywhere,” Mayor Chow said. “It’s a complete standstill. It’s infuriating. Guess what? You’re going to pay for bad behaviour, and we’re going to fine you.”

Mayor Chow said officials are working with the Toronto Police Service (TPS) on a strategy for enhanced enforcement of the city’s “Don’t Block the Box” program.

“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.

The city is exploring the potential use of technology, such as cameras for automated enforcement of the “Don’t Block the Box” program. City staff will provide an update to city council in October.