Special constables and fare inspectors with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) will wear body cameras starting Monday.
The rollout will include cameras being used inside special constables’ vehicles.
In May, the transit agency initiated a nine-month pilot program that introduced body-worn cameras for 20 fare inspectors and 20 special constables, as well as 14 in-car cameras installed in the vehicles used by special constables.
“The TTC is committed to enhancing accountability, transparency and public trust in enforcement and customer engagement,” reads the TTC’s website. “Body-worn cameras and in-car cameras demonstrate this commitment by prioritizing oversight of Special Constables and Fare Inspectors, achieving the spirit of the Ombudsman’s recommendations.”
The TTC has said that body-worn cameras enhance the ability to document more interactions than CCTV systems and capture audio, offering a more detailed record of events.
Last month, the TTC announced that plain-clothes fare inspectors would begin patrolling the transit system and giving out tickets to offenders. The TTC first tested plain-clothes inspectors in 2018 and reintroduced them in November during a soft launch focused on education.
According to 2024 statistics, offences against TTC customers dropped 35 per cent compared to January 2023. Customer Service Communications related to safety and security also decreased by 65 per cent since May 2023.
What TTC customers need to know about the body cams
TTC special constables and fare inspectors will inform transit customers that they are being recorded in both audio and video “at the earliest opportunity in their interaction with them.”
“[Customers] will also know the body-worn camera is on when they see a red blinking light on the camera and hear its tones and vibrations,” reads the TTC’s website. “Signage will also be available in special constable patrol vehicles to advise people about the in-car camera system.”
The body cams will be activated in various situations, including when fare inspectors are conducting fare checks, when investigations are underway, during interactions with customers suspected of breaching TTC bylaws (Trespass to Property Act, Liquor License and Control Act, Mental Health Act, and Criminal Code of Canada), and upon a customer’s request.
In September, the TTC took further action to combat fare evasion, eliminating the “no-tap” fare gates at some subway stations.
The body-worn cameras will not be activated during interactions that are not investigative or enforcement-related, for personal recordings, or where recording is restricted. Videos recorded via TTC body cameras can be kept for 20 years, but the transit agency says that length is currently under review.
With files from Michael Talbot and Afua Baah of CityNews
