Parking in Hamilton? Here are your odds of getting a ticket

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It seems UPS is willing to suck up $6,000 a year in parking tickets for one of their drivers in Hamilton, Ontario.

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A deep dive by the Hamilton Spectator revealed that over 2019 and 2020, a lone truck produced the highest number of tickets in the city. “According to the Spectator analysis, a total of 139,500 tickets were handed out in 2019. Just 96,500 were handed out in 2020 — about 43,000 fewer than the year before.” But I guess if you consider the increase in parcel deliveries due to health measures keeping normal folk in their homes, it stands to reason it’d be a UPS truck with the most decorated windshield.

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Parking in Hamilton? Here are your odds of getting a ticket Back to video

The cost of tickets escalates the longer you put off paying. “Tickets range from $25 for exceeding a parking meter’s time limit to $350 for parking in a space reserved for someone who is disabled.” Pay it within 15 days, face value. Up to 46 days later, add 15 bucks. 45 to 76, add $30. Stuff the ticket in your glove box and forget about it? That’ll hit you when you go to renew your plate sticker: $35 in addition to the ticket, on top of the amount you’ll be cursing about for the renewal itself. You can run, but you can’t hide.

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They’re tougher on the 12-hour street limit; blow that limit and receive a ticket and warning. Leave your car there for an additional 12 hours, and they’ll probably tow it. Most of the tickets are coming in the downtown core; score two tickets and a final warning (they’ll chalk the tires) and you could be on the tow hook.

There have been examples of delivery drivers in Toronto trying to find ways to address the problem, including a petition by a Toronto driver asking for a yearly licence to allow for temporary (15 minutes or less) use of loading zone or no parking zones, but they haven’t met with much success. Most drivers factor it into the cost of doing business.

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Interesting facts from the article if you live in or are visiting Hamilton:

Streets you’re most likely to get a ticket on:

In 2019: King Street West (5,115 tickets), James Street North (2,736), King Street East (2,630), Victoria Avenue North (2,577);

In 2020: King Street West (2,998), King Street East (1,919), James Street North (1,378), Bold Street (1,339).

Time you’re most likely to get a ticket:  11 a.m. in 2019; same in 2020.

Time you’re least likely to get a ticket:  6 a.m. in 2019; 5 a.m. in 2020.

Day you’re most likely to get a ticket:  Sept. 16 in 2019; March 5 in 2020.

Vehicle most likely to get a ticket:  Ford, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Dodge in 2019; same in 2020.

I wonder if that UPS driver has a dedicated envelope on the dash.