New cameras on transit vehicles could result in future fines for Ontario drivers

Motorists who illegally pass stopped transit vehicles in Canada’s biggest city might get caught on camera, and should the cameras remain in effect indefinitely, potentially receive hefty fines. 

Today, the Toronto Transit Commission will, as part of an ongoing program to improve rider safety, launch a new nine-month pilot program that will use cameras to catch drivers who illegally pass open streetcar doors. 

According to the July 2026 TTC Ceo’s Report, 40 incidents of illegal passing–which occur when a car passes by a stopped streetcar that has its doors open to allow passengers to enter and exit the vehicle–were reported on the 501 Queen route (which runs along Queen Street from the Neville Park loop to the Long Branch loop) between December 2025 and March 2026. 

Over 30 incidents were recorded during the same timeframe on the 511 Bathurst route, over 20 on the 505 Dundas route and the 507 Long Branch routes and more than 10 on the 504 King and 506 Carlton routes. 

The report says a total of 145 illegal passing incidents were observed over the three-month time period. 

As of July 20, four streetcars equipped with technology from B.C.-based Gatekeeper Systems will roll out on the 501 Queen, 506 Carlton, 504 King, 511 Bathurst, and 505 Dundas routes. 

Over the nine-month pilot program period, the cameras will measure how often illegal streetcar passing occurs and test the technology’s reliability for future automated enforcement. In a news release, the TTC said that tickets will not yet be issued. While motorists caught on camera won’t be fined under the pilot program, drivers who do pass open doors do still risk fines if caught. 

Under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, it is illegal for anyone operating a car, motorcycle, moped, e-bike, bicycle or scooter to pass open doors while a streetcar is stopped to load and unload passengers. 

Those who pass an open door risk a fine of up to $183.25 plus three demerit points.

According to the TTC, recent data reveals that between 2014 and 2024, 141 people were hit by vehicles while boarding or exiting streetcars. In a news release, the TTC said passengers and operators witness and report “multiple violations and near misses every day.” 

The TTC Ceo’s Report says that about 1.77 million people boarded Toronto streetcars every week in June, with 279,000 people boarding on weekdays, 282,000 boarding on Saturdays and 201,000 boarding on Sundays. 

“No one should have to worry about their safety when getting on or off a streetcar,” Mayor Olivia Chow said in a statement. 

“This pilot is an important step toward reducing dangerous driving behaviours, protecting TTC customers, and making our streets safer for all road users.”

The pilot has launched at a time when the TTC is exploring additional safety policies and procedures. In 2017, the TTC Board requested changes to the Highway Traffic Act to enable camera enforcement. 

Those changes came in 2022, paving the way for this pilot project.

According to the June report, streetcar ridership is on the rise, growing by eight per cent year-over-year in May as downtown employment activity, tourism, and special events increased demand. 

Cover photo from Flickr