The government of Ontario continues to place stiff fines on any driver that sits behind the steering wheel while under the influence of alcohol. Yet in the past, such fines did not punish those drivers that attempted to pay attention to both the road and some type of distraction. In order to solve that problem, Ontario’s legislative body has passed some new laws.
Law against distracted driving
A personal injury lawyer in Leamington knows that it is illegal to talk, text, type, dial or email, using any hand-held device, while driving. Furthermore, the utilization of such a device, in order to obtain some form of entertainment is allowed, if the device’s user happens to be driving a motored vehicle.
Punishment for distracted drivers
• For a 1st offence, a driver must pay a fine of $1,000, and the driver’s license will be suspended for 2 days.
• For a 2nd offence, a driver must pay $2,000, and the driver’s license will be suspended for 7 days.
• For a 3rd offence, a driver pays $3,000, and faces a 30-day suspension of the driver’s license.
There are special fines for novice drivers, those with a G1 or G2 license. A 1st or 2nd offense by one of someone in that group can result in a suspension of the license for a period ranging between 30 and 90 days. Those that commit a 3rd distracted driving offence face a cancellation of their license.
Stronger enforcement of the law against DWI
Police can ask anyone suspected of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs to take a breathalyzer or saliva test. Anyone that refuses to take such a test can be fined $550. A novice driver that gets tested is supposed to have 0 BAC (blood alcohol content) and no presence of cannabis.
Stricter punishment for speeders
The fines placed on speeders vary, depending on the extent to which the speeder has exceeded the speed limit. In locations where the speed limit is between 1 and 19 km per hour, the fine is $2.50 for each km per hour that the driver’s speed has risen above the stated limit. In stretches where the speed limit is between 20 and 34 km per hour, the fine is $3.75 for each km per hour that the driver’s speed rises above the stated limit.
Each of the new rules has been created with an eye towards making the Canadian roads safer for all motorists and their passengers. The rules outlined above pertain to those at the wheel of any motored vehicle. Some of the newer rules pertain exclusively to truck drivers. Those seek to enforce the limits on the driver’s time behind the steering wheel. No one wants an overly-tired man or woman driving a truck.