Some parking infractions in Toronto will cost you more starting Thursday

In a bid to relieve the traffic congestion choking Toronto roads, the city is raising fines forfourparking offences this week by as much as $110.

Right now, drivers whoget caught blocking asidewalk, parkingin ahigh-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane, double parkingorstoppingin a TTC zone could getat a ticket forbetween $40 and$60.

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Starting Thursday, the fine for those offences goes up to$150.

"By attaching a real price to blocking lanes of traffic with illegal parking, we will reduce congestion," Mayor John Tory said Tuesday in a news release announcing the changes.

Increased enforcement of illegal parking is one element of Tory'ssix-point planto cut traffic congestion. That plan was introduced last year.

"This is just one more step that we are taking to keep Toronto moving and keep pedestrians safe," Tory said in the release.