Understanding Bill 203 “Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario”
New Laws April 5th. 2008, 12:00pmAmid the controversy and discussion surrounding the recent enactment of Bill 203 and its harsh measures against street racing (i.e. Driving 50 km over the speed limit), its useful to have a breakdown of the new legislation’s goals and future targets. The following information is from Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation’s website:
Street Racers and Aggressive Drivers – Effective September 30, 2007
The legislation includes tough measures for those who choose to race on Ontario’s roads, including higher fines and longer suspensions:
- The maximum fine increases from $1,000 to $10,000 upon conviction for street racing, making it the highest penalty in Canada. The minimum fine increases from $200 to $2,000.
- Police can issue an immediate seven-day driver’s license suspension and seven-day vehicle impoundment for street racing, participating in a driving contest or stunt driving.
- Courts can impose a driver license suspension of up to 10 years for a second conviction, if the second conviction occurs within 10 years of the first. For a first conviction, the maximum license suspension period remains at 2 years.
- The definition of a “driving stunt” includes driving a motor vehicle at 50 km/h or more above the posted speed limit.
- The Act also bans driving a motor vehicle on a highway with a connected nitrous oxide system. Some street racers use nitrous oxide to enhance the acceleration capabilities of their vehicles.
Flashing Lights – Effective September 30, 2007
- Police services can now use flashing blue lights in combination with flashing red lights on their vehicles. The combination of flashing blue and red lights will help increase visibility and public recognition of police vehicles, especially at night.
- Flashing red lights can now be used on vehicles designated by regulation, such as:
- Ministry of Revenue vehicles operated by provincial offences officers;
- Aviation and forest fire management vehicles operated by an officer while responding to a fire or other emergency;
- Emergency response vehicles designated by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care under the Ambulance Act.
- Flashing green lights can now be used by designated volunteer medical responders in addition to firefighters while responding to an emergency in their personal vehicles.
Drinking and Driving – Planned For Late 2008
- Create escalating administrative sanctions for repeat drivers who drink measuring 0.05 to 0.08 blood alcohol concentration (the “warn” range):
- First instance: driver suspended for three days
- Second instance: driver suspended for seven days and must undergo remedial measures course
- Third or subsequent instance: driver suspended for 30 days, must undergo remedial measures course and have ignition interlock condition on their license for six months.
- Measures to increase installation of ignition interlock devices by convicted offenders.
- Allowing the use of the civil forfeiture law to take vehicles away from people who continue to drink and drive.
At Legal Action, we know that ignorance is no defense and getting the right information to our clients is our top priority. For all the details concerning new laws, stories and announcements effecting your time on the road, stay tuned to Legal Action’s Blog. Get the facts and get Legal Action today.
April 18th, 2009 at 4:02 am
In Canada you are considered legally impaired at 0.08. That number will get you a conviction , fine , & a record. It is illegal to drive a vehicle with those levels in your bloodstream. And so it should be. If I get pulled over with 0.05 in my bloodstream , I am not legally impaired , there fore I am doing nothing illegal. Why should I get my licence taken for 3 days for not comitting an illegal offense. This is a money grab & nothing more. $150 to get my license reinstated? Whats next?? 0 tolerence?? Probably. I’m all for getting drunk drivers off the road & keepijng them off. What is the name of the charge for having the 0,05 – 0.08 in your blood , almost impaired driving?? I have been “drinking & driving” for over 30 years with never a conviction of being impaired. I kind go by the 1 drink per hour rule. I enjoy a cold beer & seeing a live band at a bar. I don’t go out to get pissed up or to intentionally try to push the “ALMOST IMPAIRED” charge. Lets get real here. If you are found to have excess alchohol in your blood , 0.08 or higher charge that person & make it severe. I still maintain that at the lower consuption levels I am not legally impaired , there fore guilty of nothing!! I plan to continue going out for a “couple” of beers , but with the implimentation of this new money grab , I will surrender my keys to the bar( don’t want to get caught with keys if I am impaired) , request an officer to test my alcohol levels. If I am good to go , I will then get my keys back & be on my way. I just hope on the way home I don’t get stopped & charged with ” he has a pretty sporty looking car , maybe he intends to drive too fast”. Lets get him for mentally wanting to speed. l
Lets see now , that would be ALMOST street racing. Get real!!!! If i break the law charge me , dont charge me if I have done nothing wrong legally!!!
November 5th, 2009 at 11:29 am
[...] Ontario’s street racing law has been under the gun since it was passed over two years ago. Among its various criticisms, last week we reported corruption within the OPP ranks. Further deteriorating the validity of the stunt driving law, a judge has ruled that the charges laid against a 62-year-old grandmother are unconstitutional. [...]
December 19th, 2009 at 5:02 am
BILL 203 is not unconstitutional, think of the pedestrians walking in a residential area and an erratic, insane driver drives 113km/hr in a 60km zone through a residential area. The violent driver is lucky to have not run over a child or anyone for heaven’s sake. And she is let go because a judge says it is unconstitutional. Not thinking of the safety of the public is unconstitutional!