Drivers Beware......And Cautious(New Ontaio Law Crackdown)

[coolhand]

Had this sent to me via my work. Thought it might give you guys a heads up. Gotta keep us Emerg vehicles safe.


YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
Just a reminder of the new law governing passing an emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the highway with it's lights flashing...please read the attached message below.

Let's be careful out there people.

~ We have to protect the men and women who are out there keeping our highways safe ~

Ontario drivers - attention
(please pass on to everyone you know)...

Hi Friends,

Someone I know sent me this:

I just had an experience which I hope you will not share.

I was driving on the 417 West at Panmure at broad daylight at 2 p.m.,
when I came upon two police cruisers who had pulled over a third
vehicle. I slowed down to be cautious, and was surprised when the second cruiser pulled out and pulled me over.

Approaching on the passenger side, the officer asked if I knew why I
had been pulled over. I honestly expressed that I had no idea.

He informed me that Ontario law now states that when approaching any
emergency vehicle, on the roadside, with lights flashing, you must enter
the left lane. He then proceeded to ticket me, taking three demerits and
issuing a fine of , wait for it, . . . $490! (Yes, I'm choking as I type that.)

I realize I did not change lanes, but I do believe I was cautious. My
message is, be careful. He said that they are cracking down hard on this
because of three injured officers in the last ten days.
I did not realize this was the law. Neither did any of my recently-licensed
children. Or, evidently, not the 47 drivers (I counted) who broke the same
law as I sat waiting to receive my ticket!
__________________________________________________ ________
Hi,
For my part, I saw this happen today (Feb 24th) on Highway 69 South of Sudbury, on the passing lane on the Magnetewan flats.
A cruiser was parked on the shoulder of the southbound lane with his lights flashing. He had no vehicle stopped, he was just parked there.
I was northbound and reduced my speed, the extra lane was on the southbound side so, there were two lanes between me and the cruiser.
A southbound motorist passed the cruiser without moving to the outer lane and the Officer immediately pulled out and gave chase to that driver.
I saw him stopping him in my mirror before going over the next hill. The car did not appear to be speeding, in fact he seemed to slow, but failed to change lanes and was (presumably) stopped for that reason!
Ted
Read the actual Law below:

Below is the the excerpt from the Ontario Highway Traffic Act. relating to this offence. It is under section 159.1 (1), (2), (3),(4),(5).

Approaching stopped emergency vehicle
159.1 (1) Upon approaching an emergency vehicle with its lamp producing intermittent flashes of red light or red and blue light that is stopped on a highway, the driver of a vehicle travelling on the same side of the highway shall slow down and proceed with caution, having due regard for traffic on and the conditions of the highway and the weather, to ensure that the driver does not collide with the emergency vehicle or endanger any person outside of the emergency vehicle. 2002, c. 21, s. 1; 2007, c. 13, s. 20.
Same
(2) Upon approaching an emergency vehicle with its lamp producing intermittent flashes of red light that is stopped on a highway with two or more lanes of traffic on the same side of the highway as the side on which the emergency vehicle is stopped, the driver of a vehicle travelling in the same lane that the emergency vehicle is stopped in or in a lane that is adjacent to the emergency vehicle, in addition to slowing down and proceeding with caution as required by subsection (1), shall move into another lane if the movement can be made in safety. 2002, c. 21, s. 1.
Same
(3) Nothing in subsection (1) or (2) prevents a driver from stopping his or her vehicle and not passing the stopped emergency vehicle if stopping can be done in safety and is not otherwise prohibited by law. 2002, c. 21, s. 1.
Offence
(4) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable,
(a) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $400 and not more than $2,000; and
(b) for each subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $4,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both. 2002, c. 21, s. 1.
Time limit for subsequent offence
(5) An offence referred to in subsection (4) committed more than five years after a previous conviction for an offence referred to in subsection (4) is not a subsequent offence for the purpose of clause (4) (b). 2002, c. 21, s. 1

[HoseHead]

That's not a new law. It's common sense.

Four laner - All vehicles reduce speed. Vehicles in the left lane need to allow right lane vehicles to merge left to keep away from stopped emergency vehicles.
Two laner - reduce speed and proceed with caution.

The key is to reduce speed enough that you can stop if the situation warrants (ie a person steps out into your lane). This is not only for emergency and police, but for any vehicle stopped on a highway.

A few years back, I had a blowout just after connecting to the 400 north from the 401 West. I pulled over to change the tire and I'll tell you, it was one of the most frightening places I've ever physically been in. I was way over to the right and there were still idiots doing a buck and a half with their tires over the side marker line. I walked way into right ditch and called CAA. There was no way in hell I was going to risk changing a tire in that location. No way, no how.

[5speedxr7]

I agree that it is common sence to move over. but sometimes the situation does not allow you to move over. ie. other drivers not allowing you in.

I do have a huge problem however with an officer parking with his lights on with the sole intention of ticketing people who dont merger over.

[Paul93SC]

in addition to slowing down and proceeding with caution as required by subsection (1), shall move into another lane if the movement can be made in safety.I found myself in this situation not too long ago, and it's (sometimes) not easy to deal with.

Travelling along the QEW in lane 3, I came upon two cruisers that had a single car pulled over. From a distance I could tell this was no ordinary stop... one officer was standing on the passenger side about 5 feet away, and the other officer was on the drivers side, same distance, and both had their hands on their guns! The distance from the suspects car put the second officer just outside lane 3.

Being rush-hour, there was no way I could move over into lane 2, so I slowed down to a crawl and was prepared to come to a complete stop if necessary.

What happened after that was just nuts... I almost caused a multi-car pile-up! People just don't look ahead while driving. One driver several cars back fish-tailed, spun out, and clipped the guardrail slightly! This scared the officers, and also diverted their attention briefly (which might have been dangerous if the suspect was up to no good).

I hope I never find myself in that situation again... :(

I do have a huge problem however with an officer parking with his lights on with the sole intention of ticketing people who dont merger over.Could it be he had someone pulled over, but they left just prior to that?.. (maybe?)