Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Emergency Vehicle Safety), 2002 Runciman, Hon. Robert W. Minister of Public Safety and Security — Bill 191 (37th Parliament, 3rd Session)

Bill 191, 37-3

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Bill 191, Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Emergency Vehicle Safety), 2002

Runciman, Hon. Robert W. Minister of Public Safety and Security

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[37] Bill 191 Royal Assent (PDF)

Bill 191 2002

An Act to amend the

Highway Traffic Act

to ensure the safety of

emergency vehicles stopped on a highway

and people who are outside

a stopped emergency vehicle

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative

Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Part X of the Highway Traffic Act is

amended by adding the following section:

Approaching stopped emergency vehicle

159.1

(1) Upon approaching an

emergency vehicle with its lamp producing intermittent flashes of red light

that is stopped on a highway, the driver of a vehicle travelling on the same

side of the highway shall slow down and proceed with caution, having due

regard for traffic on and the conditions of the highway and the weather, to

ensure that the driver does not collide with the emergency vehicle or

endanger any person outside of the emergency vehicle.

Same

(2) Upon approaching an emergency vehicle with its lamp

producing intermittent flashes of red light that is stopped on a highway with

two or more lanes of traffic on the same side of the highway as the side on

which the emergency vehicle is stopped, the driver of a vehicle travelling in

the same lane that the emergency vehicle is stopped in or in a lane that is

adjacent to the emergency vehicle, in addition to slowing down and proceeding

with caution as required by subsection (1), shall move into another lane if

the movement can be made in safety.

Same

(3) Nothing in subsection (1) or (2) prevents a driver from

stopping his or her vehicle and not passing the stopped emergency vehicle if

stopping can be done in safety and is not otherwise prohibited by law.

Offence

(4) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) is

guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable,

(

a) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $400 and not more than

$2,000; and

(

b) for each subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $1,000 and not

more than $4,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months,

or to both.

Time limit for subsequent offence

(5) An offence referred to in subsection (4) committed more

than five years after a previous conviction for an offence referred to in

subsection (4) is not a subsequent offence for the purpose of clause

(4) (b).

Driver's licence suspension

(6) If a person is convicted of an offence under subsection

(4), the court may make an order suspending the person's driver's licence for

a period of not more than two years.

Appeal of suspension

(7) An appeal may be taken from an order under subsection

(6) or a decision to not make the order in the same manner as from a conviction

or an acquittal under subsection (4).

Stay of order on appeal

(8) Where an appeal is taken under subsection (7) from an order

under subsection (6), the court being appealed to may direct that the order

shall be stayed pending the final disposition of the appeal or until

otherwise ordered by that court.

Definition

(9) In this section,

"emergency vehicle" means a vehicle described in subsection 62 (15.1),

except that it does not include a school bus.

Commencement

2. This Act comes into force on a day to be named by

proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.

Short title

3. The

short title of this Act is the Highway

Traffic Amendment Act (Emergency Vehicle Safety), 2002 .

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Explanatory Note was written as a reader's aid to Bill 191 and

does not form part of the law. Bill 191 has been enacted as

Chapter 21 of the

Statutes of Ontario, 2002.

The Bill amends the Highway Traffic Act to require drivers

approaching an emergency vehicle that is stopped on a highway with its red

light flashing to slow down and to move into a lane not adjacent to the

vehicle if it is safe to do so. A person who contravenes these requirements

will be guilty of an offence punishable, for a first offence, by a fine of

$400 to $2,000 and for subsequent offences, by a fine of $1,000 to $4,000, or

to imprisonment for a maximum of six months, or to both a fine and

imprisonment. The court that convicts a person of an offence may also suspend

his or her driver's licence for a maximum of two years.

[37] Bill 191 Original (PDF)