The city has announced a hefty fine increase for this common Toronto traffic offence in an effort to deter drivers from obstructing major intersections.
Blocking the box fines are increasing from $90 to $450 at most intersections and from $120 to $500 in community safety zones, Mayor Chow announced at a downtown Toronto press conference on Monday morning.
The city defines blocking the box as when a driver enters an intersection on a green or amber signal when there is no reasonable prospect of being able to clear the intersection before the light changes to red.
“These drivers that blindly rush out into the middle of the intersection, the light changes and everyone is stuck, and all the traffic comes to a complete standstill, you’re gonna pay for that behaviour,” Chow said.
Starting today, the city is rolling out signage at key intersections in downtown Toronto where blocking the box is a major issue.
Chow also said the municipal government is continuing to work with Toronto police on a strategy for “enhanced enforcement” of the Don’t Block the Box program, which city staff are set to update council on in October, according to a city press release.
Meanwhile, Toronto residents have been responding to the fine increase online.
“I’m old enough to remember when you did this about 10 years ago and just gave up enforcing it. When do you plan to give up on enforcement this time around?,” one X user wrote.
“Increasing fines doesn’t address the root of the problem. Toronto traffic is throttled by too many road construction projects closing lanes on too many streets all at the same time, new condo building and bike lanes pinching traffic on main streets,” another person wrote.
“Steeper fines don’t accomplish much if there’s no enforcement. Just look at the increased fines for distracted driving with mobile phones—no one cares because the police rarely enforce the rules unless it’s during some specific ‘blitz,’” one Reddit user posted.
The city is also exploring the possibility of installing technology solutions such as cameras, which requires provincial approval.
The introduction of higher fines is part of the city’s broader three-year Congestion Management Plan which includes initiatives to leverage technology to better coordinate construction, establish a dedicated traffic management team that works with city stakeholders, mitigate the impacts of construction-related transit route diversions, and measures that utilize technology in traffic signal operations.
