Ontario business under fire for slapping difficult-to-remove 'no parking' stickers on cars
Becky Robertson
created: April 23, 2025, 4:06 a.m. | updated: April 23, 2025, 7:41 p.m.
<img class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual" src="https://display.blogto.com/articles/20250422-ontario-parking.jpg?w=1200&cmd=resize_then_crop&height=630&quality=70&format=jpeg" width="100%" /><p>After the anxiety-inducing mission of trying to secure a parking space in downtown Toronto, drivers who aren't conscientious about following posted signage shouldn't be surprised to find their vehicle <a href="https://www.blogto.com/city/2024/04/parking-ticket-changes-coming-toronto-summer/">slapped with a steep ticket</a>, or even towed.</p><p>However, incorrectly parking in one area of a different Ontario city appears to come with a secret third consequence that some drivers claim is worse than the standard fine one might reasonably expect, along with being potentially dangerous and litigation-worthy.</p><p>Ottawa Street Dental, located in downtown Windsor, has come under fire this month due to management's brash attempts to take local parking issues into their own hands.</p><p>Following what one can only assume were multiple instances of random cars occupying private parking spaces reserved for patients, staff at the clinic began affixing large "illegal parking" stickers onto offending vehicles, which appear to be virtually impossible to remove, along with being problematically (and unlawfully) placed.</p><p>One viral video <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIJ_ZTWvWT-/?igsh=N3locGt0MTE2YmJz">shared to Instagram </a>shows a driver's futile attempts to remove one of the stickers, which someone at the business adhered to their driver's side window, partially blocking their line of sight.</p><p>"We accidentally parked in Ottawa Street Dental's parking lot yesterday, thinking the unmarked spots along the alley [were] the cafe parking next door," the poster explained in the caption <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIJ_ZTWvWT-/?igsh=N3locGt0MTE2YmJz">on the clip</a>, which now has more than 210,000 views.</p><p>While they admitted this was a "silly mistake" on their behalf, they shared the video to question the office's tactics, which they posit "could be considered mischief or something like that, especially if the stickers are hard to remove and aren't part of any official or lawful enforcement."<br /><br />"By the looks of it, similar looking stickers found on Amazon are labeled 'impossible to be ripped off in one piece,' are designed to come apart in teeny tiny chunks and are 'difficult to completely remove,'" they continued, adding that the dentist's was also closed on the day they had inadvertently parked in one of the private spaces.</p><p>"While I sincerely apologize for the mix up of accidentally parking in your lot and I'm sure mistakes like mine are extremely frustrating for you — next time, just tow my f***ing car or something," the driver went on to beg the business, tagging its Instagram account directly.</p><p>It does not appear that Ottawa Street Dental's account ever replied to the post, which was made two weeks ago now. Owners also declined to comment when blogTO reached out to them over phone and email.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media"><div style="padding: 16px;"><div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div><div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div><div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIJ_ZTWvWT-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"></a></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"><div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIJ_ZTWvWT-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div><div> </div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div></div></div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div></div><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIJ_ZTWvWT-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Made in YQG - Showcasing Windsor Ontario and Surrounding Region (@madeinyqg)</a></p></div></blockquote><p>While a few of the hundreds of commenters on the post chastised the motorist for parking on private property, many chimed in with criticisms of the clinic instead, with the opinion that the measure is complete overkill.</p><p>One person told whoever came up with the idea to "grow up," while others agreed the strategy is "immature" and "petty," especially since the establishment was closed on the day in question.</p><p>"It would be a shame if someone purchased a pack of these stickers off Amazon and put them all over their storefront. What a joke lol," another wrote.</p><p>Still others offered tips for removing the stubborn label, questioning, like the poster, if the DIY decals could be considered legal. Multiple people noted that the same thing had happened to them or someone they know.</p><p>Local police did tell blogTO that while they "understand the frustration business owners face when vehicles are parked illegally on private property," they "urge property owners and businesses to use appropriate and lawful methods when addressing these situations."</p><p>"If a vehicle is parked illegally on your private lot, the recommended course of action is to contact a licensed towing company to have the vehicle removed. This is the most effective and lawful way to manage unauthorized parking," a representative of the Windsor Police Service said to blogTO over email.</p><p>They added that making sure there is clear signage indicating parking in the area is reserved for customers, and that all other vehicles may be towed, is a preferable and proactive step to prevent the issue in the first place — and one that will likely receive far less hate than Ottawa Street Dental's chosen course of action.</p>
1 month, 2 weeks ago: blogTO