Bill 94 explained in plain English
Highway Traffic Amendment Act (School Bus Camera Systems), 2017
Ontario legislature bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Legislative Assembly of Ontario snapshot for 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. Representative vote breakdowns appear when the Assembly publishes an Ayes and Nays page for the bill.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
Bill 94, the Highway Traffic Amendment Act (School Bus Camera Systems), 2017, allows photographs and videos from school bus cameras to be admitted as evidence in court for offences related to failing to stop for a school bus.
This bill, known as the Highway Traffic Amendment Act (School Bus Camera Systems), 2017, proposes to amend the Highway Traffic Act to allow photographs or videos taken by school bus camera systems to be used as evidence in court. Specifically, it aims to provide evidence for alleged offences related to vehicles failing to stop for a school bus. The bill also outlines conditions for these photographs and videos to be accepted as evidence, including requirements for certification and compliance with regulations. It further clarifies how this evidence can be used to prove certain offences and establishes that convictions based solely on this evidence can only occur if the evidence is presented in court. The Lieutenant Governor in Council would be able to make regulations regarding the definition of 'photograph' and 'video,' the content of these images, and how they are used in legal proceedings. The bill is set to come into effect on a date proclaimed by the Lieutenant Governor.
- Amends the Highway Traffic Act to allow photographs or videos from school bus camera systems to be used as evidence in court proceedings.
- Establishes conditions under which these photographs or videos will be accepted as evidence.
- Specifies that such evidence can be used to prove that a vehicle failed to stop for a school bus or passed it improperly.
- Clarifies that a conviction based solely on this camera evidence can only occur if the evidence is presented in court.
- Grants the Lieutenant Governor in Council the power to make regulations concerning school bus camera system evidence.
- Drivers of vehicles who may pass a school bus while its red signal lights are flashing or its stop arm is extended.
- Individuals charged with offences related to failing to stop for a school bus under subsection 175 (11) or (12) of the Highway Traffic Act.
- Provincial offences officers involved in certifying the evidence.
- The court system, which will receive and consider this new form of evidence.
- The Lieutenant Governor in Council, which is empowered to make regulations.
- A photograph or video obtained from a school bus camera system must be received as evidence in proceedings concerning offences under subsections 175 (11) and (12) of the Highway Traffic Act, provided it meets regulatory requirements.
- Photographs or videos certified by a provincial offences officer are considered proof, in the absence of contrary evidence, that they were obtained from a school bus camera system.
- Such evidence is proof that the vehicle and its driver committed an offence under subsections 175 (11) or (12) of the Highway Traffic Act, unless there is evidence to the contrary.
- A person pleading not guilty cannot be convicted solely on school bus camera evidence unless that evidence is presented in court.
- The Act comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.
- The bill deals with evidence used in proceedings under the Provincial Offences Act, which may result in penalties as prescribed by that Act for the offences under subsections 175 (11) and (12) of the Highway Traffic Act.
- The effectiveness of the bill depends on regulations that will be made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, which are not detailed in the bill text. These regulations will govern aspects like the definition of 'photograph' and 'video,' the required content and format of the images, and the filing and service of offence notices.
- The bill does not specify the exact penalties for the offences, as these are governed by the Provincial Offences Act and subsection 175 (11) and (12) of the Highway Traffic Act.
Adds a new Part (Part XIV.3) to allow photographs or videos obtained from school bus camera systems to be received as evidence in proceedings under the Provincial Offences Act for alleged offences under subsections 175 (11) and (12) of the Highway Traffic Act. It also sets conditions for this evidence and allows for regulations to be made.
Source: Section 1
Specifies that photographs or videos obtained from school bus camera systems can be received as evidence in proceedings under this Act for alleged offences related to school buses. It also allows for modifications to existing sections (Sections 205.16 to 205.24) to apply to these proceedings.
Source: Sections 205.26 (1) and 205.26 (6)
Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.
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Vote Summary
This bill is still active. We only show vote counts after the legislature publishes a recorded division.
No published representative vote breakdown
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Official sources
Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.
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