07-18-2017, 08:44 AM
danbrotherson: Unfortunately, the only thing you can do is call and complain and/or sit back and hope the by-law folks come by at the right time/right place. The problem with delivery vehicles is they are there for just a few minutes before moving on. We don't sit and wait for infractions, we just get lucky as we pass by. (The only exceptions to this are NSA's in School Zone... we pick a school and stand there and hand out $80 tickets to everyone who stops to drop off little Jimmy... the other exception is private security guards who are authorized to write city tickets... they can hang out in their property's fire route and hand out $80 Fire Route tickets and $300 disabled persons space tickets). As for the bus stops, the drivers were pretty good about radioing in to dispatch who would send us if we were close. Its frustrating, but for now, its what we got.
Obstructing traffic would be used mostly on a non-residential roadway, where a vehicle parks in such a manner to block the only lane in that direction. [So even though a parked car in one of two N/B lanes technically may be Obstructing, it wouldn't be ticked. If another vehicle double parked, that vehicle would be obstructing. Basically if a parked vehicle sends me into oncoming traffic, a ticket is warranted] Residential roadway's are trickier, since 3hrs of parking is normally allowed on both sides. Even though I may need to pull to the side to allow oncoming traffic to pass, I wouldn't ticket. If in my expert opinion, I am of the belief that a fire truck could not safely pass thru, I would ticket vehicles on both sides.
Its sad to hear the Customer Care centre give "they might fight it" as a reason not to attend. [When I worked there we got the calls directly]. Our justice system is built on the premise everyone has the right to trial, and if we don't enforce things that people might fight, not only would I be out of a job, but we could eliminate all law enforcement.
ljmorlan: Yes it is. The traffic bylaw was written for cars, and changed to accommodate bikes... but not written with them in mind. [In fact if I recall correctly, the "restricted lane" section of the by-law doesn't mention bikes specifically, even though it is the most prevalent type of such lane.]
Coke
Obstructing traffic would be used mostly on a non-residential roadway, where a vehicle parks in such a manner to block the only lane in that direction. [So even though a parked car in one of two N/B lanes technically may be Obstructing, it wouldn't be ticked. If another vehicle double parked, that vehicle would be obstructing. Basically if a parked vehicle sends me into oncoming traffic, a ticket is warranted] Residential roadway's are trickier, since 3hrs of parking is normally allowed on both sides. Even though I may need to pull to the side to allow oncoming traffic to pass, I wouldn't ticket. If in my expert opinion, I am of the belief that a fire truck could not safely pass thru, I would ticket vehicles on both sides.
Its sad to hear the Customer Care centre give "they might fight it" as a reason not to attend. [When I worked there we got the calls directly]. Our justice system is built on the premise everyone has the right to trial, and if we don't enforce things that people might fight, not only would I be out of a job, but we could eliminate all law enforcement.
ljmorlan: Yes it is. The traffic bylaw was written for cars, and changed to accommodate bikes... but not written with them in mind. [In fact if I recall correctly, the "restricted lane" section of the by-law doesn't mention bikes specifically, even though it is the most prevalent type of such lane.]
Coke