The newspaper has identified the biggest “ticket traps” on the island of Montreal between 2021 and 2023, based on reports of offenses submitted by the Police Service of the City of Montreal (SPVM). Here are the ten intersections where the police acted the most.
1. Congestion at the bridge exit
A car turns right on rue Larivière, in June 2023.
Louis-Dominique Lamarche
Avenue De Lorimier and rue Larivière
▪ 4609 offenses
▪ 4164 for right turn prohibited
The police have given so many tickets to this street corner that it ranks first on the list, even though it has been completely closed to traffic for almost a year.
“It demonstrates the relevance of a physical barrier,” says the co-founder of the Collective Appeasement for Sainte-Marie, Chris McCray, who explains that the police were not able to intercept all the offending drivers.
Before its closure, a right turn ban had been put in place, because drivers arriving from the Jacques-Cartier bridge were trying to escape traffic by taking the small rue Larivière.
“Right turns notably caused excess traffic on the streets bordering two schools in the area, in addition to clogging up the residential sector,” explains SPVM spokesperson Anik de Repentigny.
2. Of the U-turn to go faster
Intersection of Jarry and Acadie streets, the worst “ticket trap” of the year 2023.
Photo Dominique Cambron-Goulet
Boulevard de l’Acadie and rue Jarry
▪ 4,329 offenses
▪ 1441 for prohibited U-turn
It only takes a few minutes to observe a motorist at fault at this intersection on the border of Parc-Extension and the town of Mont-Royal.
In 2023, this is the place where the police have intercepted the most delinquent road users.
- Listen to the interview with Dominique Cambron-Goulet, investigative journalist at Journal de Montréal on the microphone of Alexandre Dubé via QUB :
“I saw three cars doing the U-turn just now,” says Daniel Becker. According to him, many motorists arriving from Highway 40 perform this maneuver in order to go back to the north of the neighborhood while saving a few minutes.
“I often see agents [de police]», confirms Aziz, employee of the gas station located on the corner of the street.
3. Many problems at the entrance to the highway
The intersection of Saint-Michel and Crémazie boulevards is the most accident-prone place on the island of Montreal, according to the SPVM.
Photo Charles Mathieu
Crémazie Est and Saint-Michel Boulevards
▪ 3923 offenses
▪ 1993 tickets for running a red light
The intersection of Saint-Michel and Crémazie Est boulevards is where there are the most accidents on the island of Montreal, according to the SPVM. Surveillance operations are therefore often carried out there.
“There are really a lot of police officers and a lot of people getting arrested. In the majority of cases, it concerns those who do not stop at red lights,” indicates Gabriel, a young man met while juggling in front of motorists stopped at red lights.
The neighborhood station claims to have collaborated with the City to modify the infrastructure of the premises. In particular, they increased the duration of red lights.
4. Speed near Maisonneuve CEGEP
The police are less present on Avenue Bourbonnière since the addition of a cycle path in the fall of 2023.
Photo Dominique Cambron-Goulet
Avenues Bourbonnière and Pierre-De-Coubertin
▪ 3836 offenses
▪ 3345 for excessive speed
Many motorists take Avenue Bourbonnière to avoid the traffic on Boulevard Pie-IX to cross the Hochelaga and Rosemont districts.
“The immediate area may be very residential, but many motorists seem to wrongly believe that rue Bourbonnière is a transit route,” explains Anik de Repentigny of the SPVM.
The speed limit of 30 km/h is therefore often exceeded near the Maisonneuve CEGEP.
Since the construction of a cycle path in September 2023, which reduced the width of the street, the police are less present, notes Nabil.
“Last year, there were a lot more police checks with radars,” explains the CEGEP student.
5. They think they’re buses
Many cars in the right lane continue straight ahead, although a sign clearly indicates that this is prohibited.
Photo Charles Mathieu
Décarie Boulevard and Jean-Talon Street West
▪ 3099 offenses
▪ 1527 for compulsory right turn not respected
The majority of tickets given at this location target drivers who use a bus lane rather than respecting the obligation to turn right.
“People find themselves on the right, but they continue straight, even though they cannot,” said Seyni, met near the Namur station.
The latter maintains that the police are positioned behind the metro station and near the Harvey’s restaurant.
“I once received a ticket because I changed lanes to the right after going straight 5 or 6 years ago. I contested, because I was not in the wrong,” he said.
6. The police vary their habits
Many motorists receive tickets at the corner of Viger and Berri.
Photo Dominique Cambron-Goulet
Avenue Viger and rue Berri
▪ 3608 offenses
▪ 2108 for non-compliance with an obligation to go straight
In 2022, this street corner is where the SPVM has issued the most tickets, i.e. more than 2,149.
The previous year, the police had given almost no tickets there, because they were more accustomed to doing their surveillance on the other side of the Ville-Marie highway, at the corner of Berri and Saint streets. -Antoine.
It was also the biggest “ticket trap” in 2021, but since then, the SPVM has only caught 150 road users at this location.
The police consider that they must be present at the corner of Viger to protect cyclists from drivers who make a prohibited turn to take a shortcut to the highway.
7. A shortcut off the highway
Motorists continue on Chemin Canora instead of turning left onto Chemin Côte-de-Liesse at the highway exit.
Photo Charles Mathieu
Côte-de-Liesse and Canora Roads
▪ 3359 offenses
▪ 2566 for non-compliance with a mandatory turn
A ban on going straight between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on one side and an obligation to turn right on the other are in effect at the intersection of Côte-de-Liesse and Canora roads, in the town of Mont-Royal . Many motorists do not respect these obligations.
The number of fines was four times higher in 2022 than in 2023, before the signage was changed.
Motorists use Chemin Canora to avoid driving on Côte-de-Liesse, explains Anik de Repentigny, who also specifies that further away is a residential area where children travel.
8. Motorists mixed on Saint-Joseph
Several motorists are caught for exceeding the speed limit on Saint-Joseph Boulevard
Photo Charles Mathieu
Boulevard Saint-Joseph between the 12e and the 13e avenue
▪ 3290 offenses
▪ 2626 for excessive speed (30 km/h zone)
In this area, the speed limit is 30 km/h because two elementary schools are located nearby. In the majority of cases, motorists did not respect the speed limit.
“We can’t speak for motor vehicle drivers, but they seem to be under the impression that since St. Joseph East can resemble a through road, the speed limit is higher than it should be. is really,” explains SPVM spokesperson Anik de Repentigny.
9. Getting stuck in the ass at 30 km/h
Few motorists really respect the 30 km/h limit near Maisonneuve Park, according to residents.
Photo Dominique Cambron-Goulet
Boulevard Rosemont and 35e avenue
▪ 2885 offenses
▪ 2614 for excessive speed
Around Maisonneuve Park, the speed limit was lowered from 50 to 30 km/h in 2016. The police regularly corner drivers in a hurry there, on rue Viau, but especially on boulevard Rosemont.
The fact that there is no side street, no stop sign or light for more than 400 meters west of Rue Viau encourages motorists to drive happily on this boulevard.
Mme Éthier, encountered in the park, has already received a ticket for excessive speed at this location.
“It was my fault,” she blurted. But I find that people drive very fast [près du parc]. On Viau, I get stuck in the ass if I drive at 30 km/h,” she says.
10. Pinned in front of the police station
Speed is an issue at the corner of Métropolitain and Langelier boulevards.
Photo Dominique Cambron-Goulet
