ZR
09-21-2017, 07:22 AM
TORONTO - Drivers will soon face stinging penalties for careless and distracted driving.
Under legislation to be introduced by Premier Kathleen Wynne’s government, a motorist convicted of the proposed new offence of careless driving causing death or bodily harm faces a fine of $2,000 to $50,000, imprisonment of up to two years, a licence suspension of up to five years and the loss of six demerit points.
Using a hand-held cellphone while at the wheel or committing some other form of distracted driving comes with fines ranging from $500 to $3,000, depending on whether it’s a first, second or third offence.
Distracted driving would also bring the loss of demerit points and licence suspension
Ok so nice they put more teeth into the law but how about just enforcing the law we already have. Also nice how "distracted" does not have any firm explanation attached to it, will we be making it up the the side or the road? Do however agree drivers are clearly not getting the message on texting and using phones will driving. Seems ridiculous when you see a driver on a hand held phone when you know it's one that has factory blue tooth etc factory installed. Perhaps some are too difficult to safely use?
Commercial drivers would be required to maintain a zero level of alcohol or drugs in their blood while on the road or face fines and licence suspension
Zero is a great number and makes perfect sense so long as those enforcing it use common sense. We don't want to see the person who works crazy hours have a been after work and still have trace amounts in their system when the slide back behind the wheel get pinched.
Regular motorists who are caught in the “warn range” of drunk driving — a 0.05 to 0.08 blood alcohol level — would see the current fine of $198 rise to $250 on a first offence, $350 on a second offence and $450 on a third offence.
The ever so popular "warning range". So your not drunk under the law but we are going to penalize you anyways. Ok so I was pissed off at my neighbor n wanted to knock his teeth out, is there a fine for that to?
Drivers found to be impaired will pay a $550 fine, up from $198.
Impaired and it's only that?
Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca said the government had previously ushered in stronger sanctions against distracted driving.
“But we still see, both anecdotally and with the statistics we’re hearing from the OPP, that still far too many people are driving while distracted,” Del Duca said Wednesday. “It’s causing an undue number of collisions on roads and, of course, injuries and, unfortunately, fatalities as well.”
The new careless driving causing death or bodily harm charge is in response to concerns raised by the families of victims, he said.
The offence, with its maximum fine of $50,000 on conviction, will help provide closure to families and serve as a deterrent to other drivers, he said.
“It will be the stiffest penalty within the Highway Traffic Act,” Del Duca said.
Careless driving in Ontario law is defined as operating a motor vehicle without due care or attention.
While dangerous driving in the Criminal Code also carries a severe penalty, it is a more difficult charge to prove in court than careless driving, he said.
“This is providing the system and law enforcement in particular with another tool,” he said.
Nice, so under due process the charge that fits is hard to prove so let's make a wide sweeping charge (let's all say stunt driving together now) and create one thats a ton easier to prove and likely just that much harder to defend against.
Under legislation to be introduced by Premier Kathleen Wynne’s government, a motorist convicted of the proposed new offence of careless driving causing death or bodily harm faces a fine of $2,000 to $50,000, imprisonment of up to two years, a licence suspension of up to five years and the loss of six demerit points.
Using a hand-held cellphone while at the wheel or committing some other form of distracted driving comes with fines ranging from $500 to $3,000, depending on whether it’s a first, second or third offence.
Distracted driving would also bring the loss of demerit points and licence suspension
Ok so nice they put more teeth into the law but how about just enforcing the law we already have. Also nice how "distracted" does not have any firm explanation attached to it, will we be making it up the the side or the road? Do however agree drivers are clearly not getting the message on texting and using phones will driving. Seems ridiculous when you see a driver on a hand held phone when you know it's one that has factory blue tooth etc factory installed. Perhaps some are too difficult to safely use?
Commercial drivers would be required to maintain a zero level of alcohol or drugs in their blood while on the road or face fines and licence suspension
Zero is a great number and makes perfect sense so long as those enforcing it use common sense. We don't want to see the person who works crazy hours have a been after work and still have trace amounts in their system when the slide back behind the wheel get pinched.
Regular motorists who are caught in the “warn range” of drunk driving — a 0.05 to 0.08 blood alcohol level — would see the current fine of $198 rise to $250 on a first offence, $350 on a second offence and $450 on a third offence.
The ever so popular "warning range". So your not drunk under the law but we are going to penalize you anyways. Ok so I was pissed off at my neighbor n wanted to knock his teeth out, is there a fine for that to?
Drivers found to be impaired will pay a $550 fine, up from $198.
Impaired and it's only that?
Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca said the government had previously ushered in stronger sanctions against distracted driving.
“But we still see, both anecdotally and with the statistics we’re hearing from the OPP, that still far too many people are driving while distracted,” Del Duca said Wednesday. “It’s causing an undue number of collisions on roads and, of course, injuries and, unfortunately, fatalities as well.”
The new careless driving causing death or bodily harm charge is in response to concerns raised by the families of victims, he said.
The offence, with its maximum fine of $50,000 on conviction, will help provide closure to families and serve as a deterrent to other drivers, he said.
“It will be the stiffest penalty within the Highway Traffic Act,” Del Duca said.
Careless driving in Ontario law is defined as operating a motor vehicle without due care or attention.
While dangerous driving in the Criminal Code also carries a severe penalty, it is a more difficult charge to prove in court than careless driving, he said.
“This is providing the system and law enforcement in particular with another tool,” he said.
Nice, so under due process the charge that fits is hard to prove so let's make a wide sweeping charge (let's all say stunt driving together now) and create one thats a ton easier to prove and likely just that much harder to defend against.