Daily BrewToronto’s most profitable fire hydrant has raked in $300K in tickets
Nothing riles up the blood of Canadian drivers quicker than finding a ticket slipped under their windshield, except perhaps when that ticket is borne from what seems to be a bureaucratic oversight or some other logistical trap that reeks of cash grabbery.
Like getting a parking ticket after struggling to understand the confusing labyrinth of city signage, for example. Or because you parked in front of a fire hydrant that is so hidden from sight that firefighters themselves may not be able to find it.
Which is why this Canadian Press story captured so much attention on Monday. According to an analysis by reporter Steve Rennie, ticketing in front of Toronto fire hydrants has brought $24 million into city coffers since 2008.
And the city's most profitable fire hydrant is one at 393 University Avenue, which has garnered the city nearly $300,000 worth of income from fines being leveled against people who park near it.
The catch? The hydrant is inset in centre of the expansive downtown sidewalk, several long paces from the street curb, behind a large tree planter, a bicycle stand and enough cement to house an entire marching band.
In short, the length of a parked car is nothing compared to the distance from the curb to the hydrant itself.
And there is not a single sign warning drivers that there is a hydrant present in the area.
(The hydrant's ability to draw fines is so prolific that the snapshot currently captured by Google Images shows two cars with tickets on their windshield and an enforcement officer in search of more marks.)
[ Related: The 10 fire hydrants that make Toronto the most money in parking tickets ]
By law, anyone who parks within three metres of a fire hydrant can be ticketed. The fact that the University Avenue hydrant is more than three metres from the curb is meaningless.
The 3 meter limitation refers to prohibited parking within 3 meter of the "imaginary line" on the point on the street where the hydrant is located. A fire or rescue vehicle must have unimpeded access directly in front of the hydrant regardless of how far back the hydrant is located from the curb.
The offence is also included under a list of rules that do not need a sign to be enforced.
In short, a hydrant can be painted in camouflage, hidden behind a tree, under a basket and ten yards from the side of the road and still be worth $100 a pop to unsuspecting drivers.
But this cash cow isn't alone. Of the 10 most profitable hydrants in Toronto, at least five are located a significant distance from the curb. One hydrant at 56 The Esplanade is so inset from the curb that it is nearly inside a gated restaurant patio.
Sean L. O'Connor, the founder and president of TicketSave.ca, says there is not much of a defence against fire hydrant tickets. The one thing that can be done is activism. The public can demand changes to how the system operates, pressuring the city to find more efficient places for their hydrants or better ways to build fire prevention infrastructure. Especially when they have details about which hydrants cause the most problems for drivers.
"When we have a list of 10 fire hydrants that are recognized... it's not the public, it is the fire hydrants," O'Connor told Yahoo Canada News. "We are not running buckets from wagons anymore."
Hidden fire hydrants and obscure signage are not a new threat to urban car owners. The Canadian Press found that Ottawa's most-ticketed hydrant is marked by two white lines that make it appear that a parking space is present.
Last year, the Toronto Star profiled a St. Lawrence Street fire hydrant that was almost entirely hidden from sight by weeds and a bush.
Many of the tickets in question will come from those trying to skirt the rules, but just as often confusion can be to blame. No one wants to hinder firefighters, or get in their way when to come rushing to battle a blaze. But confusion can cause chaos; it can keep conscientious drivers from doing the right thing.
This list of money-making fire hydrants should not be looked on as a cash cow, it should be seen as an indicator of problems that needs be fixed.
These hydrants, or the confusion surrounding them, are causing residents headaches. It's beyond time to alleviate the pressure.
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