A company is issuing parking tickets at an Etobicoke plaza that one Toronto official and a legal expert believe are illegal under the city bylaws.

Parking Control Unit has been issuing the slips at the Humber 27 Plaza on Humber College Boulevard. One CityNews viewer alerted the practice to CityNews when he got dinged $150 after briefly parking his car to buy a bag of milk at a convenience store last Wednesday.

“I think it’s illegal and it sends a red flag,” said Rose Burrows, manager of the city’s bylaw enforcement unit. “The only people that can issue a [parking] ticket are people that are certified. They’re called MLEO’s – municipal law enforcement officers.”

The City of Toronto says it has received hundreds of complaints about these illegal parking tickets, which the company calls “parking invoices.”

Speaking on behalf of his client, lawyer Laszlo Pandy said, “We don’t hand out tickets. We issue parking invoices for the cost of parking on our client’s property.”

Parking Control Unit is currently facing more than 80 charges for breaking Toronto’s municipal code and the case is now before the courts.

Brian Lawrie, president of Pointts paralegal service said, “It’s nonsense and if it was on my car, I mean, well, I wouldn’t be acting on it and I wouldn’t advise anybody else to do that.”

The city advises the following if anyone gets one of these tickets threatening collection or legal action if they’re not paid in full.

“They shouldn’t be worried, but they should report it,” Burrows said.

The public can call 311 or email 311@toronto.ca to report it.

See the below infographic to learn the difference between a city-issued parking ticket and a company-issued parking ticket. Mobile viewers, click here.