There are a lot of Ontario laws and, understandably, you don't know every single law in the province.
But that means you could be breaking a bunch of provincial laws without even knowing it.
That includes driving too slow, passing snow plows, owning certain dogs, driving through pedestrian crossings, riding a bicycle on the road, and more.
Some of these laws come with hefty fines between $150 and $10,000 or even prison time if you're convicted.
Here are nine Ontario laws you might be unknowingly breaking, including how much money you could be on the hook to pay.
Unnecessary slow driving
According to the Highway Traffic Act, no motor vehicle is allowed to be driven on a highway at such a slow rate of speed that it impedes or blocks the normal movement of traffic.
The exception is when a slow rate of speed is necessary for the safe operation of your vehicle regarding circumstances on the road.
"Every person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than $150 and not more than $1,000," the Act stated.
So, while you might have known that you could get in trouble for driving too fast, you might not have known that you could break a law by driving too slow.
Passing a snow plow
Did you know that it's illegal to pass snow plows on Ontario highways?
On a highway with a speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour or more that has marked lanes for traffic, you're not allowed to overtake a snow plow that's travelling in a formation with another plow.
According to the Highway Traffic Act, every person who violates this while driving a motor vehicle is guilty of an offence.
The fine ranges from $150 to $1,000.
The only exception is when the lane you're using to pass the snow plow is entirely clear of any part of the snow plow, which includes any part of an attachment or the plow blade.
Owning certain dogs
It is against the law to breed, sell and own certain dogs in Ontario.
As stated in the Dog Owners' Liability Act, no person is allowed to:
- own a pit bull
- breed a pit bull
- transfer a pit bull either through a sale, a gift or otherwise
- abandon a pit bull other than to a pound operated by or on behalf of a municipality, Ontario or a designated body
- allow a pit bull in his or her possession to stray
- import a pit bull into Ontario
- train a pit bull for fighting
In Ontario, a pit bull includes:
- a pit bull terrier
- a Staffordshire bull terrier
- an American Staffordshire terrier
- an American pit bull terrier
- a dog that has an appearance and physical characteristics that are substantially similar to those of dogs
An individual who contravenes any provision or order of the Dog Owners' Liability Act or the regulations is guilty of an offence.
If convicted, a person can be fined up to $10,000, imprisoned for up to six months, or both.
Crowding driver's seat
In Ontario, you're not allowed to drive a motor vehicle with people or property in the front or driver's seat that can interfere with the proper management or control of the vehicle, as regulated by the Highway Traffic Act.
Smoking
Even though smoking is legal, there are restrictions on where you can smoke in Ontario.
According to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, you're not allowed to smoke or hold lighted tobacco, smoke or hold lighted cannabis, use an electronic cigarette, or consume a prescribed product or substance in a prohibited place.
Those prohibited places are:
- an enclosed public place
- an enclosed workplace
- a school within the meaning of the Education Act
- a building or the grounds surrounding the building of a private school
- any indoor common area in a condominium, apartment building or university or college residence, including elevators, hallways, parking garages, party or entertainment rooms, laundry facilities, lobbies, exercise areas and more
- a child care centre within the meaning of the Child Care and Early Years Act
- a place where home child care is provided within the meaning of the Child Care and Early Years Act, whether or not children are present
- a place where an early years program or service is provided within the meaning of the Child Care and Early Years Act
- the reserved seating area of a sports arena or entertainment venue
- a prescribed place or area, or a place or area that belongs to a prescribed class
Riding a bicycle in a pedestrian crosswalk
Riding a bicycle in pedestrian crossovers and crosswalks is prohibited under the Highway Traffic Act.
No person is allowed to ride or operate a bicycle across a roadway within a pedestrian crossover or crosswalk at an intersection or a location other than an intersection that's controlled by a traffic signal system.
Driving off the roadway
According to the Highway Traffic Act, no driver of a motor vehicle is allowed to overtake and pass another vehicle by driving off the roadway.
However, that doesn't apply if you're:
- overtaking and passing to the right of another vehicle on a paved shoulder and the vehicle being overtaken has signalled a left turn
- overtaking and passing to the right of a road service vehicle or road-building machine where a worker with the highway maintenance operation has directed you to pass and the movement can be made safely
Using certain lanes
Ontario's Highway Traffic Act mandates that slow vehicles have to travel on the right side of the road.
Any vehicle travelling a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic must be in the right-hand lane or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
Every person who violates this section while driving a motor vehicle is guilty of an offence and could be fined between $150 and $1,000 if convicted.
Crossing a pedestrian path while driving
Did you know that you're not allowed to drive through a pedestrian crosswalk until the pedestrian is completely crossed the street?
As stated in the Highway Traffic Act, when a pedestrian is crossing on the roadway in a pedestrian crossover, the driver of a vehicle approaching the crossover must:
- stop before entering the crossover
- not overtake another vehicle already stopped at the crossover
- not proceed into the crossover until the pedestrian is no longer on the roadway
Every person who violates this is guilty of an offence and is liable for a fine if convicted.
If convicted of an offence related to this part of the Act, you could be fined between $300 and $1,000 for the first offence and then between $500 and $1,000 for each offence after that.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
