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There may be something hideously Victorian and anti-social about our parking laws – you can’t park on many streets in the core after midnight. But giving a break to those out for late-night sex?
Russell Smith, editor of the Maximesque website XYYZ.ca, has been urging subscribers to sign a petition asking city council to make Booty Passes available, say at $10 a pop, to the cavorting masses. He’s already started making downloadable mock-ups available on his site.
How serious is Smith about this? Five thousand posters urging the public to “Fight Toronto’s Tax on Sex” have been plastered all over the downtown core. The plan is to present a petition to council next month. “Our sex lives are a money-maker,” he says. “The Booty Pass is a win-win for both guys and city revenue.”
Hell, even the Canadian Automobile Association is calling the permit bootylicious. Did we mention the site is dominated by car ads for the Pfaff Automotive Group?
But judging by the reaction even from leather aficionado and Toronto Centre-Rosedale councillor Kyle Rae, chances of success are minimal. He says he’s “not interested” in the idea. Transportation spokesperson Angie Antoniou recommends the closest thing to the pass – an overnight permit. Problem is, such a permit needs to be approved weeks ahead.
A fundamental flaw remains, however. There’s no way to prove you were banging unless you take pictures, but most of us may not be that kinky.
Judith Taylor, a faculty member at University of Toronto’s Institute for Women’s Studies and Gender Studies, thinks it’s all a gimmick to appeal to XYYZ.ca’s demographic.
“The idea that men are getting tickets because of women begging them to come over – this is a hilarious premise to me. I’m sure more men get tickets picking up a pizza slice after the bar.”
news@nowtoronto.com
