The Toronto Police Services Board on Thursday approved creation of a traffic enforcement squad — two teams, each with three officers and a supervisor, covering a morning shift and evening shift every weekday — smaller than one disbanded years ago after helping reduce collision numbers. The unanimous vote followed sustained calls from some city councillors and safety advocates who said police had appeared to abandon traffic enforcement as pedestrian and cyclist deaths spiked. Scott Baptist of Toronto police traffic services told board members that all officers can and do write traffic tickets, even if there was no squad dedicated to that purpose. Sign Up NowTory said the work of the enforcement squad, handing out a high volume of tickets in high-risk areas identified through data analysis, will be complemented by technology. Fellow board member Councillor Frances Nunziata says the enforcement team will be in high demand.

Source: thestar November 21, 2019 23:37 UTC