Why in Toronto do TTC (Toronto Transit Commision) secrurity guards have RED lights?
Has anyone noticed in downtown Toronto the TTC security guards now have white Fords that are set-up with Red emercency lights on the front/side of the cars and look exactly like an unmarked police car.
Are we required to pull over if they have their lights flashing.
What’s going on???
They are NOT an emergency car.
They are not police.
They are not ambulance drivers.
Whats happening?
How did they ever get this privelege?
I honestly think it is time that Toronto had real police in the TTC anyways but at the moment they are glorified security guards and they should NOT have red flashing lights on their patrol cars.
I’m not sure but I think the highway traffic act says this is illegal.
They also have red lights on some of the GTAA (Greater Toronto Airport Authority) patrol cars at the airport at Pearson International Airport, who is approving these security guards to have red lights on their patrol cars.
Remember it’s nice to be important but more important to be nice…
Tranna native checking in here, and I’ve never heard of someone being pulled over in a car by a TTC security guard. Where did you witness the white Ford with flashing red lights?
This site (from the official website) has some information on TTC safety procedures.
They are currently driving around all over downotwn Toronto in the white unmarked Ford cars with red lights on the front/side and rear of the patrol cars. Just seemed to notice them within the last few months. It’s not right.
I don’t know Ontario traffic law from Ukrainian pork-farm regulations, but I’d hazard a guess that in strictly controlled circumstances they can assume “peace officer” status, such as being able to direct traffic at an accident involving a TTC vehicle, ability to proceed to the scene of such an accident as a priority “emergency” vehicle, etc. Volunteer firemen in several U.S. states have these sorts of privileges with reference to fires that they are called to, and I believe some transit authority personnel in the larger cities have privileges similar to those I suggested above might be the case in Toronto.
The TTC Special Constables only have jurisdiction over matters involving the TTC, so they wouldn’t be able to pull you over for speeding, if that’s what you mean by ‘pull over if their lights are flashing’.
The relevant section of the Highway Traffic Act is 62 (14). The list of vehicles which are permitted to have red flashing lights is “An ambulance, fire department vehicle, police department vehicle, public utility emergency vehicle or school bus…”. Since the TTC Special Constables have police-like powers in TTC matters (they can make arrests, for example), their vehicles might well be considered either police department vehicles or public utility emergency vehicles.
One of these vehicles with its lights flashing may be underway to a vehicle or subway station where a serious incident is occuring. Under Section 159 of the Highway Traffic Act, you’re required to pull to the right and stop for such a vehicle to let it pass. (The list of vehicles in Section 159 is the same as in Section 62, so you have to stop for any vehicle that’s allowed to have a flashing red light.) AFAIK they can’t stop you for non-TTC issues, even for traffic violations, but if the red lights are on, they’re responding to a TTC-related emergency.
I’m a radio amateur and radio enthusiast in general. If anything draws the cop/fire wannabes, its radios and lights*. There’s many mailing lists and message boards out there and most I’ve seen have had at least some discussion of local emergency light laws (In fact, some MBs have banned these discussions). Luckily for all involved, there’s a reference site: http://www.wagnersafety.com/lights/laws.html
Obviously, this isn’t official in any way but its a start. The state laws are all over the place.
It looks like Ontario lets many services use the red lights including “public utility” which I would read to include public transit security. Its not difficult to imagine one of these cars needing to quickly respond to some incident scene.
*The psychology is really strange. There’s many, many people who think once they have a scanner, an orange vest, and a two way, they’re somehow implicitly deputized and NEEDED at every accident/crime/fire/injury/lockout/cat-in-tree scene. See here for more.
Although I’ve seen the vehicles you’re talking about, I’ve never seen one used while responding to an emergency. I guess I’d probably look twice if I saw one flashing behind me while I was driving.
The GTAA are in the same boat but are mixed with actual police units and ETF personel. You’ll rarely see a GTAA vehicle outside the airport area anyhow.