Toronto police launching post-March Break parking enforcement blitz near schools on Monday

Const. Laura Brabant says the campaign aims to avoid ‘unnecessary risks’ surrounding school drop off and pick up zones.

Toronto police want to ensure the roads are safe and clear near schools zones for both children and pedestrians following the March Break.

Starting on Monday, parking enforcement Unit will be launching a one-week school safety campaign, which will see its officers monitoring for illegal parking near schools and strictly enforcing parking violations.

“Special attention will be given to no stopping and no parking zones, crosswalks, and school bus loading areas to help create a safer environment for students,” Toronto Police Service said in a news release.

The campaign will run until March 27.

“It is paramount that drivers prioritize the safety of our most vulnerable road users--schoolchildren and pedestrians,” police said.

Speaking with CP24 on Sunday afternoon, Const. Laura Brabant said police are “urging motorists to slow down, give yourself plenty of time for pickups and drop offs and always prioritize safety over convenience,” adding this campaign is all about ensuring motorists are “not creating any unnecessary risks with the children and pedestrians returning to school.”

“A lot of times, in and around schools, parents will pull right up to a no stopping or no parking zone just to let their kids really quick because they need to get to work, and that’s not safe, you know,” she said.

“If you’re trying to make yourself not be in a rush, slow down. Give yourself plenty of time to get to where you’re going. Stay off your cell phones, that’s a must. And you know, we just want everyone to be safe, you know, especially our children.”

The media officer went on to say that police want to ensure that when buses are unloading and picking up children, that the children are going to be safe in doing so, and that cars stop for those buses while they’re doing their pickups and drop offs.

She added that police will also be prioritizing crosswalk areas around schools “so children can safely cross of crosswalks, whether they have a crossing guard or not.”

As for road users, Brabant is urging them to slow down, pay attention to the crosswalks, and stop signs around schools.

“We want to make sure that our children do get to school safely,” she said, adding parking enforcement officers will be prioritizing the school loading and unloading zones.

“So if there’s no stopping or no standing zones and no parking in around your school, they will be enforcing those areas as well.”