Toronto Warning or Danger Tips by paulbrec

Crime is very low for a city of this size. There are some areas that some may consider 'seedy'. They are not really dangerous, but I don't recommend them to tourists, as there is no real 'tourism value' in these areas. Walking around at night is fairly safe, as long as you stay in the tourist areas. Even in "safe" areas you should still take "normal" precations. You should still lock your car, and hide valuables in the truck. There are people in Toronto who are capable of stealing. Violent crime is unlikely in the tourist areas, but you still need to use common sense. Enjoy yourself. Don't be paranoid, but be aware.

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Paying for stuff: One thing that bothers me even as a person who lives here, is the lack of bussineses that accept Debit Card (bank card) as a form of payment. Restaurants are especially bad for this. You would expect that in the 21st century in a major city everyone would accept Debit Card. Anyway, just remember to always have cash on you when shopping or eating in Toronto.

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Smoking is not allowed in public places in Toronto. This includes restaurants, shopping malls and subway stations. The only exception is in bars and nightclubs where an age restriction applies.
***UPDATE: As of June 1 /04 smoking will not be allowed in bars or nightclubs either. Also included are bingo halls and casinos. Although, some places will have enclosed smoking areas.

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There are a lot of homeless people and beggars downtown. Be careful, because some are "fake". A few have already been caught. If you choose to ignore them, they will not bother you. They are not dangerous.

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If you drive in Toronto, do not park illegally. You will be ticketed. Parking is strictly enforced in Toronto. It is not unusual to get two or even three tickets at the same time! You might even be towed! Signs indicate where you can and can not park, but sometimes they can be confusing. It is safe to assume that parking is not allowed on major streets. These are any roads with 4 or more lanes. Stopping is not allowed at crosswalks, near intersections, in front of fire hydrants, or near bus stops.
Speed limits in Toronto are as follows: Expressways: 90 km/h, Main Thoroughfares: 60 km/h, Residential Streets: 40 km/h, School Zones during school hours: 30 km/h.

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Remember that if you are here on vacation, the people who live here have to work.
We appreciate you enjoying our great city, but please do not do it from the middle of the sidewalk. If you want to photograph something, stand to one side. Also if you use public transportation, please help by not using it during peak periods, usually between 7-10 and 4-7 Monday-Friday. The system is already overcrowded. Please time your pleasure trips during off-peak times whenever possible. Its better for you too, because you will be able to get a seat! Thanks.

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P.A.T.H. is an underground walkway that connects the office towers downtown to each other, and to subway stations. You are supposed to be able to walk around downtown in any weather. There are also shops and food courts. However, they mostly close at 5, and are usually not open on Sundays. The P.A.T.H. itself is complicated to navigate, as it twists and turns, up and down stairs and escalators. Its not as easy as it appears on the map. Plus, its not finished. Part of it ends up at a dead end. At which point you have to backtrack through a parking garage. If you want to check it out, go ahead, but its not that big of a deal, and be careful not to get lost. I now work in one of the buildings connnected to P.A.T.H., and I still find it easier and faster to go outside.

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All businesses that serve food in Toronto are required to post their health inspection results. Color coded signs are used, and must be placed in clear view. Health inpections are conducted annually, and are very strict. A green "PASS" sign means that all parts of the inspection were passed. A yellow "CONDITIONAL" sign means that part of the inspection didn't pass, but the business can stay open under conditions that they fix the problem. A red "CLOSED" sign means that a major part of the inspection failed, and the business must remain closed until the problem is fixed. It is up to you if you want buy food from a place with a yellow sign. I personally don't.

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I really hate to do this while trying to promote this great city, but be very careful of police. Toronto used to have a great police department, but since the new chief, it has been going downhill. It seems that police have nothing better to do than to harass people. We have a gang problem that is getting worse, and all police want to do is harrass innocent people. I was bothered once for doing nothing more than walking around minding my business. I have also seen police harass skateboarders, and stop many U.S. tourists during Carabana weekend. I don't want to put you off visiting Toronto. Its still a great city, just be weary of police who want to "talk to you". If it does happen, make sure to get names and badge numbers, and report it to the police station immediately.

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Website: http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/professionalstandards/