Bill 197 explained in plain English
Safer Roads and Communities Act, 2024
Ontario legislature bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Legislative Assembly of Ontario snapshot for 43rd Parliament, 1st 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
The Safer Roads and Communities Act, 2024, amends the Highway Traffic Act to introduce new licence suspension rules for impaired driving causing death, vehicle theft, and repeat offences, and modifies existing penalties and definitions related to road safety.
This Act, now known as the Safer Roads and Communities Act, 2024, amends the Highway Traffic Act. It introduces new provisions for driver's licence suspensions related to causing death while impaired, motor vehicle theft, and repeat offences. It also modifies existing suspension periods for certain driving infractions, removes the term 'power-assisted bicycle' from several definitions, and makes changes to rules concerning emergency vehicles and penalties for specific driving offences. The Act also grants regulation-making powers for new vehicle classes and the conditions of driver's licences.
- Amends the Highway Traffic Act to introduce new rules for driver's licence suspensions.
- Introduces indefinite driver's licence suspension for convictions of impaired driving causing death.
- Introduces driver's licence suspensions for motor vehicle theft convictions: 10 years for a first offence, 15 years for a second, and indefinite for third or subsequent offences.
- Increases administrative driver's licence suspension periods for driving with a specified level of alcohol or drug in the body from three to seven days for a first suspension, and from seven to 14 days for a second suspension.
- Removes the term 'power-assisted bicycle' and related provisions from definitions and rules within the Highway Traffic Act.
- Amends rules concerning approaching and following emergency vehicles.
- Modifies penalties and licence suspension periods for driving in a race, on a bet or wager, or while performing a stunt.
- Adds regulation-making powers related to new vehicle classes and driver's licence conditions, including prohibiting alcohol or drugs.
- Repeals certain sections of other Acts, including the Moving Ontarians More Safely Act, 2021.
- Drivers in Ontario.
- Owners of vehicles.
- Individuals convicted of impaired driving causing death.
- Individuals convicted of motor vehicle theft.
- Individuals with previous driving convictions.
- Individuals subject to administrative licence suspensions.
- Manufacturers or distributors of bicycles (due to definition change).
- Law enforcement officers.
- Operators of emergency vehicles.
- The Ministry of Transportation (Registrar).
- Drivers must comply with new licence suspension rules.
- Drivers must adhere to updated minimum age requirements for operating motor-assisted bicycles.
- Drivers must follow new rules regarding approaching and yielding to emergency vehicles.
- Convicted individuals face potentially longer or indefinite driver's licence suspensions.
- The Registrar of the Ministry of Transportation has new powers related to licence conditions and reductions of suspensions.
- The Act received Royal Assent on November 19, 2024, and most of the Act came into force on that date.
- Certain sections (including those related to licence suspension for impaired driving causing death, vehicle theft, and increased administrative suspension periods) come into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.
- Fines associated with contravening regulations made under section 1.2 of the Highway Traffic Act range from $60 to $2,500.
- Penalties for certain offences, including driving in a race or stunt, involve fines and licence suspensions, with potential for increased suspension periods at the court's discretion.
- Convictions for contravening regulations made under section 1.2 of the Highway Traffic Act are subject to fines of not less than $60 and not more than $2,500.
- New penalties include indefinite licence suspension for impaired driving causing death, and tiered suspensions (10, 15 years, indefinite) for motor vehicle theft.
- Increased administrative licence suspension periods for certain alcohol/drug-related offences.
- Enhanced penalties and licence suspension periods for offences related to driving in a race, on a bet or wager, or while performing a stunt.
- Specific penalties for contravening Section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act include fines ($2,000-$10,000), imprisonment (up to six months), and licence suspensions (minimum one year, three years for second offence, indefinite for subsequent offences).
- The precise date when specific sections of the Act come into force is not yet determined, as it awaits proclamation by the Lieutenant Governor.
- The specific circumstances and conditions under which indefinite licence suspensions may be reduced by the Registrar are to be prescribed by regulation.
- The definition of 'prescribed concentration' for alcohol or drugs in relation to licence conditions is not detailed in the Act and would be set by regulation.
This is the primary law being amended by this Bill, affecting various definitions, offences, penalties, and suspension provisions related to driving and road safety in Ontario.
Source: An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act
The definition of 'bicycle' no longer includes 'power-assisted bicycle'.
Source: Section 1 (1)
The definition of 'motor vehicle' no longer includes 'power-assisted bicycle'.
Source: Section 1 (2)
The definition of 'power-assisted bicycle' is removed.
Source: Section 1 (3)
Amends provisions related to exemptions for classes of vehicles or drivers, and authorizes the Minister or Ministry to act in ways different from what is authorized by this Act or other specified Acts.
Source: Section 2 (1)
Amends provisions related to exemptions for classes of vehicles or drivers, and authorizes the Minister or Ministry to act in ways different from what is authorized by this Act or other specified Acts.
Source: Section 2 (1) (d) and (e)
Amends provisions related to exemptions for classes of vehicles or drivers, and authorizes the Minister or Ministry to act in ways different from what is authorized by this Act or other specified Acts.
Source: Section 2 (1) (d) and (e)
Amends provisions related to exemptions for classes of vehicles or drivers, and authorizes the Minister or Ministry to act in ways different from what is authorized by this Act or other specified Acts.
Source: Section 2 (1) (d) and (e)
Adds a new subsection stating that in case of a conflict between a regulation made under Section 1.2 and the Act, the regulation prevails.
Source: Section 2 (2)
Adds that an officer appointed for carrying out the provisions of this Act can be included with police officers in a specific section.
Source: Section 3
Replaces the section on the minimum age to drive a motor assisted bicycle, setting it at 16 years.
Source: Section 4
Modifies the interpretation section concerning convictions under the Criminal Code (Canada) to ensure they are treated consistently with the Highway Traffic Act provisions.
Source: Section 5
Modifies the interpretation section concerning convictions under the Criminal Code (Canada) to ensure they are treated consistently with the Highway Traffic Act provisions.
Source: Section 5
Adds a new section providing for the indefinite suspension of a driver's licence upon conviction for impaired driving causing death.
Source: Section 6
Adds a new section providing for the indefinite suspension of a driver's licence upon conviction for impaired driving causing death, referencing subsection 320.14 (3) of the Criminal Code.
Source: Section 6 (1)
Adds a new section providing for driver's licence suspensions for motor vehicle theft convictions under the Criminal Code (Canada), with durations varying based on the number of convictions.
Source: Section 7
Adds a new section providing for driver's licence suspensions for motor vehicle theft convictions under the Criminal Code (Canada), with durations varying based on the number of convictions.
Source: Section 7 (1)
Increases the number of years for licence suspension in a specific context from five to 10 years.
Source: Section 8
Updates references to specific subsections related to licence suspensions.
Source: Section 9
Increases the duration of licence suspensions for first and second offences from three days to seven days and from seven days to 14 days, respectively.
Source: Section 10 (1)
Increases a period from five to 10 years in relation to licence suspensions.
Source: Section 10 (2)
The definition of 'driver' is updated to include persons with care, charge, or control of a motor vehicle on or off a highway.
Source: Section 10 (3)
The definition of 'motor vehicle' is updated to include motorized snow vehicles and other vehicles as defined in the Criminal Code.
Source: Section 10 (4)
Increases licence suspension periods for first and second offences from three days to seven days and from seven days to 14 days, respectively.
Source: Section 11 (1)
Increases a period from five to 10 years in relation to licence suspensions.
Source: Section 11 (2)
Increases licence suspension periods for first and second offences from three days to seven days and from seven days to 14 days, respectively.
Source: Section 12 (1)
Increases a period from five to 10 years in relation to licence suspensions.
Source: Section 12 (2)
Increases licence suspension periods for first and second offences from three days to seven days and from seven days to 14 days, respectively.
Source: Section 13 (1)
Increases a period from five to 10 years in relation to licence suspensions.
Source: Section 13 (2)
Increases licence suspension periods for first and second offences from three days to seven days and from seven days to 14 days, respectively.
Source: Section 14 (1)
Adds a provision that suspensions older than 10 years are not considered for determining first, second, or subsequent suspensions.
Source: Section 14 (2)
Increases licence suspension periods for first and second offences from three days to seven days and from seven days to 14 days, respectively.
Source: Section 15 (1)
Adds a provision that suspensions older than 10 years are not considered for determining first, second, or subsequent suspensions.
Source: Section 15 (2)
Modifies the process for staying a driver's licence suspension upon appeal.
Source: Section 16
Adds provisions for imposing conditions on driver's licences, including prohibitions related to alcohol or drugs and screening procedures.
Source: Section 17 (2)
Adds a provision to increase licence suspension periods based on periods of imprisonment ordered by a court.
Source: Section 17 (5)
Removes a reference to this Act in a specific subsection.
Source: Section 18
Removes references to 'motor assisted bicycle' and 'power-assisted bicycle' in certain provisions.
Source: Section 19 (1)
Amends the definition of 'bicycle' to exclude 'power-assisted bicycle'.
Source: Section 19 (2)
Removes references to 'power-assisted bicycle' in specific subsections.
Source: Section 20 (1) and (2)
Removes references to the repealed Section 103.1.
Source: Section 22 (1) and (2)
Updates the definitions of 'emergency vehicle' to include specific ministry vehicles operated by appointed officers.
Source: Section 23 and 24 (2)
Replaces subsections related to penalties and licence suspensions for certain offences, increasing minimum suspension periods and providing for discretion to extend suspensions.
Source: Section 25 (1)
Modifies the provisions for reducing indefinite licence suspensions.
Source: Section 25 (2)
Adjusts licence suspension periods by referencing Section 172.
Source: Section 26
Expands the definition of 'driver' to include persons with care, charge, or control of a vehicle that has recently travelled from or off the highway.
Source: Section 27
Adds a reference to Section 172 in a specific subsection.
Source: Section 28
Repeals subsections related to specific provisions of the Act.
Source: Section 29
Repeals specific sections of this Act.
Source: Section 30
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.
Official textProcess Snapshot
Vote Summary
This bill does not have a published recorded division in the current official sources, so representative-by-representative vote counts are not shown.
No published representative vote breakdown
The current official sources do not publish a recorded division breakdown for this bill, so there is no representative-by-representative table to show.
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.
How this data is sourced