Legally are you supposed to park between the lines in a spot?

Question

In Toronto is there some sort of bylaw or legality that dictates when you are in a parking lot you must park in the clearly designated spots properly in between the painted yellow lines or is that just common courtesy? Sometimes drivers make their own spot or take up 2 spots but we've all paid the entrance fee into the parking lot so legally does it matter? It's bad manners at worst but is that breaking the law too?

Answer 1

Canada is a very courteous country, as a rule. If it's a pay lot, taking up two spaces costs the operator money, and an additional charge is justified. Improperly parked cars can be towed away as well.
Courtesy rocks!!

Answer 2

Hate? That's a strong word. Though I did once put a nice note asking that someone be more careful when parking in the future (they were taking 1.5 spots at a crowded commuter lot). Of course, I was extra piqued because they backed into a spot so that they were set up to drive the wrong way down a one-way road to exit the parking area, but that's another matter entirely.

Answer 3

People in my city have an annoying habit of parking along the street so that the parking meter is in the middle of their car, rather than parking immediately behind the meter. I once asked a "meter maid" if that was legal and she told me that it was considered taking up two spots and she writes tickets for that. The same in a parking lot.

That's in Pittsburgh, I don't know about Toronto.

BTW, I was in Toronto for the fist time last October and thought it was a really nice city! I was impressed at how they had recycling bins along side all the trash baskets. I wish they would do that here.

Answer 4

You said "paid the entrance fee" so you are paying for one parking spot. Paid parking areas where I live will have your car towed for taking two spots. There are signs posted and it is on the back of the ticket you get when you pay.