TTC to test cameras catching drivers illegally passing streetcar doors
Starting Monday, four streetcars on five mixed-traffic routes will be equipped with cameras to track drivers ignoring stopped streetcars. No tickets during the nine-month pilot.
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Toronto is launching a nine-month camera pilot aimed at cracking down on one of the city's most dangerous driving behaviours: motorists illegally passing open streetcar doors.
Beginning Monday, July 20, four TTC streetcars equipped with new technology from B.C.-based Gatekeeper Systems will roll on five mixed-traffic routes—501 Queen, 506 Carlton, 504 King, 511 Bathurst, and 505 Dundas. The cameras will track violations without issuing tickets during the test phase, allowing the TTC to evaluate system reliability before potential automated enforcement.
Under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, drivers, cyclists, e-bike riders, and scooter users must stop when a streetcar opens its doors at a curbside stop. Violators face fines up to $183.25 and three demerit points. Between 2014 and 2024, 141 people were struck by vehicles while boarding or exiting streetcars.
Mayor Olivia Chow said the program is overdue. "No one should have to worry about their safety when getting on or off a streetcar," she said. TTC Chair Jamaal Myers added that every day, customers and operators see vehicles blow past open streetcar doors. The project is part of a broader modernization push to make informed decisions about wider rollout and enforcement.
The facts
When does the TTC camera pilot start?
The pilot begins on Monday, July 20, 2026.
Which streetcar routes will have the cameras?
Five routes will be equipped with cameras: 501 Queen, 506 Carlton, 504 King, 511 Bathurst, and 505 Dundas.
How long is the pilot program?
The pilot runs for nine months with no tickets issued during the test phase.
What are the penalties for illegally passing a streetcar's open doors?
Under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, violators face fines up to $183.25 and three demerit points.
