Toronto Police Service

It’s what you should know about the Toronto Police Service:

The Toronto Police Service (TPS), formerly the Metropolitan Toronto Police, is the police service for the city of Toronto, Ontario. It is the largest municipal police service in Canada and second largest police force in Canada after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). At a budget of almost $1 billion it ranks second only to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in city budgetary expense

Traffic Services – Divisional Traffic Response Units

Divisional Traffic Units operate from every Police Division within the Toronto Police Service.

The Traffic Response Unit or Divisional Traffic Unit is a dedicated function within the Community Response Unit structure. The purpose of the Divisional Traffic Unit is to problem solve with the community regarding local traffic concerns and to provide general traffic duties including:

• investigation of personal injury collisions and fail to remain collisions
• traffic safety enforcement programs ( e.g. speeding, seat belts, aggressive drivers)
• enforcement of the Highway Traffic Act and driving complaints
• pedestrian and bicycle safety local traffic signs, roadway construction and/or design issues
• planning for local parades and special events occurring on roadways.

If you have a driving complaint that you would like to report, please contact the Divisional Traffic Unit where the driving took place.

Traffic Services – Collision Reporting Centres

The Collision Reporting Centres of Toronto are partnerships between the Toronto Police Service, insurance providers and private enterprise. The concept of self reporting collisions is the main function of the Collision Reporting Centres. Drivers involved in property damage collisions MUST report within twenty four hours to a Collision Reporting Centre, where a police officer inspects the vehicle damage.

The driver then completes a simplified government collision report form which is checked by a police officer. Once the reports are completed, drivers may make use of the Insurance Services offered at the Centres. Insurance providers can be contacted by phone at the site. This allows for the timely reporting of the collision to the insurance provider and an early resolution of the claim process.

This simplified process is a service to the driving public. Property damage collisions are handled in an efficient manner with more consideration given to the convenience of the driver and the time restraints on a busy population.

There are two Toronto Centres to serve you:

Traffic Services – Highway Patrol

The Highway Patrol section is responsible for patrolling the expressways within the City of Toronto. Expressway trained officers, operating vehicles equipped with early warning roof signs, push bumpers and speed measuring devices, provide twenty four hour coverage on the expressways. The Highway Patrol also has two STEALTH police vehicles for enforcement activities.

Members of the Highway Patrol are collision investigators and reconstruction experts. These officers investigate fatal and life threatening collisions; including railway incidents and the transportation of hazardous materials.

The Breath Services section within the Highway Patrol conducts breath testing on people who have been arrested for Drinking and Driving offences. These officers make presentations to community groups, businesses and high schools where drinking and driving issues within the community are discussed.

Records Management – Citizens Online Crime Reporting

This system is intended for reporting lost property or crimes under $5,000 and traffic complaints. If this is an emergency, please dial 911.

This online system allows you to submit a police report immediately. Reports must be filed for yourself or you must be authorized to file on behalf of another person. If the incident involves a business, then the report must be filed by the business owner or authorized representative. The Toronto Police Service does accept reports that occurred inside and outside the city of Toronto. However, if this has happened outside our jurisdiction, we may forward your report to the local Police. Please note there will be a time delay. Please read the following to determine if your report meets the online reporting criteria:

• There are NO KNOWN suspects.
• The value of the theft, loss or damage is less than $5,000.00 (Canadian).
• The theft or loss DOES NOT involve a firearm, licence plates, passport or prescription drugs.
• This IS NOT a motor vehicle accident.
• This IS NOT related to a break-in to your home or business.
• This IS NOT related to any form of personal violence including Domestic Violence and/or personal relationship.
• You possess a valid email address.

If you were able to confirm the statements above regarding your incident, you are ready to file your report online. Please ensure you have disabled your computer’s pop-up blocking software before you proceed.

The process

Upon completion of this report process you will:

• See the words: “Your online police report has been submitted” showing that your police report is complete.
• Be given a temporary police report case number.
• Be notified via email regarding the status of your report.

Please Note:

• All cases filed using the Citizens Online Police Reporting System will be reviewed by Toronto Police Officers.
• Upon review, if further investigation of your case is needed, you may be contacted via email or phone.

Filing a false police report is a criminal offence.

Using the Toronto Police Service Police Online Citizen Reporting System you can report the following incidents:

To report:

• Lost Property
• Theft Under $5,000
• Theft from Vehicle under $5,000
• Damage to Property under $5,000
• Damage to Vehicle under $5,000

To make a Traffic Complaint

Traffic Enforcement Group

The Traffic Enforcement Group is comprised of twenty six members who are dedicated to specialized enforcement activities throughout the Toronto area. They perform this function primarily on Harley Davidson FLHTP police motorcycles.

By employing the concepts of high visibility, efficient movement and deployment with selective and effective enforcement activities, this group of motorcycle personnel have positively enhanced the Services’ goal of providing effective Traffic Safety policing.

Members have been selected for the unit on the basis of police experience, motorcycle riding skills, interpersonal skills and appearance. The members range in service from five years to over thirty two years.

Traffic Enforcement officers are involved in the following areas:

• Highway Traffic Act enforcement
• Heavy Truck, Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspections
• Parades and Special Events
• Disaster and Crowd Management
• V.I.P. and Special Security Escorts
• R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) Vehicle Stop/Check Program
• Precision Motorcycle Team (Winged Wheels)

Source: Toronto Police Service