Sean Shapiro

Amazing message from my @TrafficServices family!

Adam asked me what I think about people fighting every traffic ticket in court, even when they know they’re guilty. Simple answer? I think it’s a massive waste of time and taxpayer money. If you’re legitimately innocent, absolutely fight the charge. That’s what the court system is for. Everyone deserves the opportunity to defend themselves and seek exoneration when they’ve been wrongly accused. But let’s be honest. Most Highway Traffic Act charges are not cases of mistaken identity or false accusations. Most people know exactly what they did. For years, some drivers treated court like a lottery ticket. Show up, hope the officer doesn’t appear, ask for delays, reschedule hearings, drag things out, and roll the dice hoping the whole thing disappears. That game is changing. In many jurisdictions now, courts can proceed using the filed evidence and documentation, meaning the officer physically appearing isn’t always required the way people think it is. The old “maybe the cop won’t show” strategy is becoming less effective. And frankly, I’m glad. Every unnecessary court appearance costs money. Officers get paid to attend. Court staff get paid. Time gets consumed. Resources get tied up that could be focused on legitimate disputes and more serious matters. Again, if you’re innocent, fight it. But if you know you’re guilty, maybe stop wasting everyone’s time and money hoping for a technical escape hatch. #ASKaTrafficCOP Thank you to @diamond_lawyers and @AccountantTI for their support.

@Kiotiman2 I believe in the discretion to write tickets rather than give warnings. 👍 of course there are places for warnings… When the driver forgets their licence at home is a perfect opportunity for a warning.

@VoiceoverCop I get officers have discretion but running a red should be an automatic ticket. I was stopped several years ago for 71 in a 60. I hadn't had a speeding ticket in 21 yrs which the OPP officer of course verified when he ran my license. Despite that I still got a ticket for 11 over

The lucky ones get caught. Yesterday, I witnessed a traffic stop that happened right in front of my parked vehicle. As the driver pulled into the parking lot, I could hear her through the open window telling a friend on speakerphone that she was about to get pulled over and had to go. That immediately made me think she’d likely been on that call the entire time. The officer explained that she had been stopped for running a red light and nearly causing a collision. After checking her documents, the officer decided to issue a warning instead of a ticket. I spoke up and said, “You’re nicer than I am. I would’ve written the ticket.” The driver immediately responded with, “But I have a clean driving record.” And that’s exactly the problem. A clean driving record doesn’t always mean someone is a safe driver. Sometimes it just means the behaviour has never been documented. People often think distracted driving only means holding a phone in your hand. It doesn’t. You can absolutely be cognitively distracted while using hands-free or speakerphone features. Your eyes can be on the road while your brain is somewhere else entirely. If we don’t measure behaviour, we can’t improve behaviour. Tickets are not just about punishment. They create accountability. They create a documented history. They influence insurance rates. They identify patterns. They force people to reflect before that behaviour escalates into a serious collision that changes lives forever. Warnings have their place, but when someone runs a red light while distracted and nearly causes a collision, is a warning enough? What do you think? Follow for more traffic safety discussions, police insight, and real-world driving talk from a former police officer. Join me live on #ASKaTrafficCOP Tuesdays at 10 a.m. Eastern Wednesdays at 9 p.m. Eastern Visit ASKaTrafficCOP.ca Thank you to our sponsors @diamond_lawyers and @AccountantTI

@Coldlakerz It may not have taught the driver anything but I believe it had the potential of leaving a more lasting memory of the event.

@VoiceoverCop Clean driving record doesn't mean your above the law. Thats not the right attitude to have. Giving a ticket would have taught her a lesson.

Tuesday #ASKaTrafficCOP for May 12, 2026 at 10:00am x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

🚨 #ASKaTrafficCOP LIVE – Today, Tuesday May 12, 2026 at 10 a.m. Eastern 🚨 It’s Tuesday, which means we’re going live at 10 a.m. Eastern to talk about stuff and things. More specifically, traffic safety, traffic law, policing, driving habits, road chaos, and whatever else shows up once the questions start rolling in. If you’ve got questions and you want answers, you know where to find me. Join the show live on your favorite platform, jump into the chat, and be part of the conversation. You can also send questions directly through ASKaTrafficCOP.ca using text, audio, or video. Got dashcam footage? A weird traffic situation? A social media clip you want me to react to? Send it in. I’m Sean Shapiro, a former police officer focused on helping people understand how traffic law and policing actually work in the real world. 🎥 Watch live on @YouTube, @TikTokCanada, @Instagram, @LinkedIn, @Facebook, @X, @Twitch, @Kick, and @rumblevideo 🔁 Replay available later as a podcast 🌐 Questions, links, resources, and voicemail at ASKaTrafficCOP.ca 👉 Join me at 10 a.m., bring your questions, and let’s talk traffic. #ASKaTrafficCOP #TrafficSafety #TrafficLaw #RoadSafety #AATC #LiveShow Thank you to our sponsors: @diamond_lawyers and @AccountantTI

Our statement on the shooting outside a synagogue last night. One person was struck with a projectile from a replica firearm and suffered minor injuries. A similar incident happened on April 30, 2026. The is being investigated by the Integrated Gun & Gang Task Force, the Counter-Terrorism Security Unit, and 32 Division.

@TPSOperations @OfficerVik Good morning!

Good morning #Toronto, @OfficerVik is on duty and will be providing updates on what's happening in the city ^vs

Thursday #ASKaTrafficCOP for May 7, 2026 at 9:00am x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

🚨 #ASKaTrafficCOP LIVE – Today, May 7 at 9 a.m. Eastern 🚨 We were supposed to go live earlier this week, but honestly, it just didn’t feel right. So we waited, regrouped, and we’re back this morning at 9 a.m. Eastern for another episode of #ASKaTrafficCOP. If you’ve got questions about traffic, traffic law, road safety, or policing, bring them. We’ll spend the morning talking through the rules of the road, real-world scenarios, and whatever else comes up once the chat gets rolling. I’m Sean Shapiro, a former police officer focused on helping people understand how traffic law and policing actually work. Whether you’re curious about tickets, collisions, enforcement, or just trying to become a better driver, this is the place. 🎥 Watch live on @YouTube, @TikTokCanada, @Instagram, @LinkedIn, @Facebook, @Kick, @Twitch, @rumblevideo, and @X 🌐 Links, resources, podcast replays, and voicemail questions at ASKaTrafficCOP.ca 👉 Join me at 9 a.m., bring your questions, and let’s talk traffic. #TrafficSafety #TrafficLaw #RoadSafety #LiveShow #AATC

Did you know, major crime indicators are decreasing in 2026? This means we are continuing to help keep Toronto safe and strengthen public safety across all communities.   Learn more: data.tps.ca/pages/data-ana…

Services have just begun tune in on @YouTube

There will not be a regularly scheduled #ASKaTrafficCOP livestream this morning, and tonight’s planned After Dark show is also impacted by previously scheduled meetings. Yesterday was supposed to be the daytime show, and today was intended to be an evening edition, so my plan was to make up for it with an extra-long daytime livestream today. That said, today is also the funeral for Ontario Provincial Police Sergeant Brandon Malcolm, who will be laid to rest with full police honours after making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Unfortunately, I’m unable to attend the funeral in person as I would have liked, but I will absolutely be watching the livestream online, and I do not want to interfere or compete with that service out of respect. If you’ve never witnessed a police funeral before, it is something powerful to see. The pomp and pageantry are not about spectacle, they are about honour, mourning, tradition, and respect for someone who went to work and never came home. You see firsthand how deeply a loss like this affects the policing community, but it should affect everyone. Behind every uniform is a human being, a family, friends, coworkers, and a community forever changed. I know some people question why police funerals are conducted on such a large scale, but when an officer dies in service, the impact reaches far beyond one department. The gathering of officers from across the country is a reflection of that shared loss and respect. I encourage you to take a few moments today to watch and pay your respects. Funeral Livestream: youtube.com/live/6-zZsRHKv… Ontario Provincial Police YouTube Channel: @OntarioProvincialPolice" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@OntarioProvin… I absolutely will still be going live today. I just need to work around the funeral service and my work schedule. Once things settle down, I’ll jump on and do what I always do, answer your traffic and police questions. Rest easy, Sergeant Brandon Malcolm. Thank you for your service. @OPP #opp #police #funeral #heroesinlife

Follow-up reporting today on the death of OPP motor officer Sgt. Brandon Malcolm, age 33, killed on duty Monday when his police motorcycle crashed on highway 401 in Cobourg. Malcolm’s body was taken by procession from Toronto to a funeral home in Oshawa. @globalnewsto

SHOOTING: Marlee Ave & Glengrove Ave W 12:24pm - reports of a shooting in the area - police o/s - victim located with gun shot wound - unknown injuries - suspect arrested o/s - anyone with info, call police @ 9-1-1 #GO887013 ^se

@FinnitchB @SUBWAY The new @ChatGPT image generation 2 is simply amazing. 😂

I was standing in Toronto Canada, ordering lunch like a normal human being, and somehow I end up at checkout being charged in American dollars in the app. Not “converted.” Not “estimated.” Straight up USD. Now, this isn’t really about a sandwich. This is about something bigger that’s creeping into everything we use, apps being pushed out fast, patched later, and barely tested in the real world. We’ve entered this era of what people are calling “vibe coding,” where things look good, feel good, and ship quickly… but the fundamentals get missed. Basic stuff. Like knowing what country your customer is standing in. That’s not a small bug. That’s a trust problem. Because if something as simple as currency is wrong, what else is broken behind the scenes? I shouldn’t have to double check my checkout screen like I’m reviewing a legal contract just to buy a sub. This is exactly what happens when speed replaces standards. @Subway, you need to do better.

Tuesday #ASKaTrafficCOP for April 28, 2026 at 10:00am x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

🕯️ Heroes in life, not death. Sergeant Brandon Malcolm. Northumberland OPP. End of watch: April 27, 2026. A little-known fact about Brandon: long before he wore the OPP uniform, he started his policing career as a volunteer with the Toronto Police Auxiliary Program at 32 Division. That’s where I met him. A hero in life, long before today. #HeroesInLife #EndOfWatch #OPP #TorontoPoliceAuxiliary​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @OPP @TorontoPolice