The Highway Traffic Act (HTA; "the Act") is a statute in
Ontario,
Canada, which regulates the
licensing of vehicles, classification of traffic offences, administration of loads, classification of vehicles and other transport-related issues. First introduced in 1923 to deal with increasing accidents during the early years of motoring in Ontario,[1] and replacing earlier legislation such as the Highway Travel Act, there have been amendments due to changes to driving conditions and new transportation trends. For example, in 2009, the Act was revised to ban the
use of cell phones while driving.
Offences under the Highway Traffic Act are the most commonly tried in Provincial Offences court.[2] Over 1.3 million offences are tried each year under the Act, with the most common charges being
speeding (559,013 occurrences, s. 128 - Speeding), running a red light (127,836 occurrences, s. 144 - Red light - proceed before green), driving whilst disqualified (117,470 counts, s. 7 - Drive motor vehicle, no currently validated permit), fail to stop (51,263 counts, s. 136 - Disobey stop sign - fail to stop) and telephoning whilst driving (51,210 counts, s. 78.1 - Drive - hand-held communication device).
Sections
Section 1 of the Act covers definitions and application of the Act to places other than highways. The definition of "highway" in the Act is broad in nature to include "a common and public highway, street, avenue,
parkway, driveway, square, place, bridge,
viaduct or
trestle, any part of which is intended for or used by the general public for the passage of vehicles and includes the area between the lateral property lines thereof".
Part I: Administration
Part I covers the following items in sections 2 to 5 of the Act:
Administrative vehicle impoundment for contravening ignition interlock condition
Suspension for driving while disqualified
Suspension while prohibited from driving
Increased suspension time
Condition on the licence that blood alcohol concentration level be zero
When driver may be disqualified
Defaulted fine
Suspension and cancellation of licence, etc., general
Notice, proposed action s. 47 or safety concern
Administrative licence suspension for blood alcohol concentration above .05
Short-term administrative licence suspension for drug or drug and alcohol impairment
Breath testing, novice drivers
Breath testing, driver accompanying novice
Breath testing, young drivers
Administrative suspension of licence for blood alcohol concentration above .08, failing or refusing to provide a breath sample
Long-term administrative licence suspension for drug or drug and alcohol impairment
Administrative vehicle impoundment for drug or drug and alcohol impairment, blood alcohol concentration above .08, failing to provide a sample or submit to tests
Proceedings before Tribunal
Appeal
Appeal of ninety-day suspension
Appeal of long-term vehicle impoundment for driving while suspended
Appeal of impoundment, commercial motor vehicles
Penalty for driving motor vehicle when permit suspended or cancelled
Service of notice of licence suspension
Driving while driver's licence suspended
Where person whose permit or licence suspended does not hold permit or licence
Suspension on appeal
Long-term vehicle impoundment for driving while suspended
Short-term vehicle impoundment for driving while suspended
Demerit point system
Conduct review programs
Regulations, novice drivers
Police request for novice driver's passenger's identification
The Highway Traffic Act (HTA; "the Act") is a statute in
Ontario,
Canada, which regulates the
licensing of vehicles, classification of traffic offences, administration of loads, classification of vehicles and other transport-related issues. First introduced in 1923 to deal with increasing accidents during the early years of motoring in Ontario,[1] and replacing earlier legislation such as the Highway Travel Act, there have been amendments due to changes to driving conditions and new transportation trends. For example, in 2009, the Act was revised to ban the
use of cell phones while driving.
Offences under the Highway Traffic Act are the most commonly tried in Provincial Offences court.[2] Over 1.3 million offences are tried each year under the Act, with the most common charges being
speeding (559,013 occurrences, s. 128 - Speeding), running a red light (127,836 occurrences, s. 144 - Red light - proceed before green), driving whilst disqualified (117,470 counts, s. 7 - Drive motor vehicle, no currently validated permit), fail to stop (51,263 counts, s. 136 - Disobey stop sign - fail to stop) and telephoning whilst driving (51,210 counts, s. 78.1 - Drive - hand-held communication device).
Sections
Section 1 of the Act covers definitions and application of the Act to places other than highways. The definition of "highway" in the Act is broad in nature to include "a common and public highway, street, avenue,
parkway, driveway, square, place, bridge,
viaduct or
trestle, any part of which is intended for or used by the general public for the passage of vehicles and includes the area between the lateral property lines thereof".
Part I: Administration
Part I covers the following items in sections 2 to 5 of the Act:
Administrative vehicle impoundment for contravening ignition interlock condition
Suspension for driving while disqualified
Suspension while prohibited from driving
Increased suspension time
Condition on the licence that blood alcohol concentration level be zero
When driver may be disqualified
Defaulted fine
Suspension and cancellation of licence, etc., general
Notice, proposed action s. 47 or safety concern
Administrative licence suspension for blood alcohol concentration above .05
Short-term administrative licence suspension for drug or drug and alcohol impairment
Breath testing, novice drivers
Breath testing, driver accompanying novice
Breath testing, young drivers
Administrative suspension of licence for blood alcohol concentration above .08, failing or refusing to provide a breath sample
Long-term administrative licence suspension for drug or drug and alcohol impairment
Administrative vehicle impoundment for drug or drug and alcohol impairment, blood alcohol concentration above .08, failing to provide a sample or submit to tests
Proceedings before Tribunal
Appeal
Appeal of ninety-day suspension
Appeal of long-term vehicle impoundment for driving while suspended
Appeal of impoundment, commercial motor vehicles
Penalty for driving motor vehicle when permit suspended or cancelled
Service of notice of licence suspension
Driving while driver's licence suspended
Where person whose permit or licence suspended does not hold permit or licence
Suspension on appeal
Long-term vehicle impoundment for driving while suspended
Short-term vehicle impoundment for driving while suspended
Demerit point system
Conduct review programs
Regulations, novice drivers
Police request for novice driver's passenger's identification