Bill 203 (HTA section 172) Unjust to all Ontario motorists
posted by The Lonely Rider
Hi Everyone,
Some of you may be aware, some not so aware, but last September the Ontario Government passed Bill 203 into law now called Ontario regulation 455/07, or better known as the Anti-Street racing legislation.
The premise was to crack down on street racing by posing harsher penalties. Although the intention is pure, the premise it was lobbied on was not. The true fact is, this legislation was lobbied under false pretense under the guise of safety for all. The public was lead to believe that "street racers" ( at the time profiled as any car enthusiast according to Attorney General Bryant) are a gross danger to the motoring public and must be cracked down on or eliminated all together.
Road safety is always a good thing, but existing rules under the existing highway traffic act can effectively deter speeders and aggressive drivers if properly enforced and issued, the new law effectively was not needed.
The new law not only targets speeders traveling 50 kph over the posted limit under one portion of the law, but can target any and all motorists for various other infractions that are for lack of a better terms left to the judgment of an officer, under the rest of the law.
Based on what an officer claims he sees you do, he can effectively at the side of the road seize your vehicle and suspend your drivers license for 7 days. The vehicle is sent to impound and all towing and impound fees paid out at the owners expense (this includes vehicles loaned to a friend).
This law does not just target speeders, it has a very wide blanket, with a great deal of gray area. If you think it can't happen to you, think again. A simple failing to yield the right of way could land your car in the impound, you sitting on your butt for the week at home, and in court trying to defend a $2,000 - $10,000 fine! Even if proven innocent later in a court of law, there is no recourse for compensation to reimburse for towing or impound, you are stuck with those costs!! Basically an automatic $1000 fine before being proven guilty, is this not too much power for a police officer at the side of the road?
It is the Car Enthusiasts who immediately saw this law for what it could become (years of being profiled and unjustly pulled over), the general public was and still is under the impression that the law will not effect them. Considering over 4500 people have been charged under the new street racing law, with a fraction of a percentage being charged actual car enthusiasts, its pretty clear this law has become more of a cash grab with a gross violation of our civil rights, then it is a law to make us safe. Many times I have witnessed minivans being loaded onto a flatbed truck, leaving some poor soccer mom stranded for a week without her vehicle.
The attached petition asks for support to ask the Ontario Government to remove the seizure and license suspension portions of the new Street racing legislation, but keep the fine amounts and infractions the same. It is something that effects all of us, not just the so called street racers. The streets Must be safe....but they must also be fair!
Petition Link >>>>
http://www.petitiononline.com/civil013/petition.html
Details of Regulation 455/07
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/index.html
Please pass this on to anyone who you feel would be interested in regaining their civil rights back. It starts with a small law like this one to set a precedent...what will our government do next?
posted by The Lonely Rider
HOV lanes OK in Toronto!
posted by The Lonely Rider
Toronto's municipal government has agreed to let motorcyclists use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes controlled by the city, even with only one rider aboard. The change is effective May 1st, 2008.
City councillor Case Ootes announced on Wednesday that a motion to let motorcycles and scooters into HOV lanes passed in council. City staff now will amend bylaws to formalize the matter.
This is not something that came easily, with municipal government staff recommending that single-rider motorcycles be kept out of HOV lanes when the HOV lanes were originally announced.
However, pressure from motorcycle lobby groups convinced councillors that allowing motorcycles into the lanes makes environmental and economical sense, and would improve, or at least not worsen, safety.
HOV lane signs will be changed over time, but for now, motorcycle stickers will be put on them. Toronto will also advise other Ontario jurisdictions with HOV lanes that this change has taken place.
This news comes as a huge relief to riders in Toronto and is a great step forward for motorcycle safety. Hopefully other municipalities will also ammend their local bylaws and finally a change to the Provincial HTA would be nice allowing motorcycles on highway HOV lanes.
posted by The Lonely Rider
