Test your traffic ticket savvy

Linda McAvoy

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Before you venture on to Ontario's highways and byways this holiday weekend, test your knowledge of the rules of the road, including some of the latest changes to the Highway Traffic Act.

1. You're stopped by police for speeding 30 km/h over the speed limit on an Ontario highway. How much is the fine?

2. True or False? As well as that speeding ticket, driving 30 km/h over the limit will also cost you three demerit points.

3. Drivers caught speeding are often issued a ticket with a fine that can be settled out of court, but at what rate of speed over the limit is that out of court settlement no longer an option?

a) 40 km/h over the limit.

b) 50 km/h over the limit

c) 60 km/h over the limit

4. If you are caught speeding in a construction zone where workers are present, the fine will be doubled. What happens to the demerit points?

a) Remain the same.

b) Doubled

c) Tripled

5. True or False? Speeding is the only traffic offence for which the fines are doubled in a designated Community Safety Zone.

6. For speeding in construction zone where workers are present, and in Community Safety Zones, the speed for which there is no longer an out of court settlement:

a) remains at 50 km/h over the limit

b) drops to 40 km/h over the limit

c) drops to 30 km/h over the limit.

7. In Ontario, Yield to Bus legislation came into effect in January 2004. Which buses does this law apply to?

8. When approaching an emergency vehicle stopped on the shoulder of an Ontario roadway with its red lights flashing, motorists must slow down and, where possible and safe to do so, move to a lane not adjacent to the one in which the emergency vehicle is situated. Failure to do so could result in a fine of:

a) $250 plus surcharges

b) $400 plus surcharges

c) $500 plus surcharges

9. Effective March 31, 2006, it became an offence to disobey a traffic control person's STOP and SLOW sign. How many demerit points will this offence carry?

10. You've just received a traffic ticket, what is the time limit for exercising your options?

ANSWERS

1. That'll be a $180 fine, plus a $35 victim surcharge and a $5 court fee ($220 in all) should you decide to plead guilty and settle out of court.

2. False. Speeding 30 km/h over the limit carries 4 demerit points.

3. b)

4. a)

5. False. Along with speeding, fines for many other infractions committed in a Community Safety Zone (careless driving, racing, etc.) are also doubled. Fines for other offences, such as unsafe lane change, are substantially increased.

6. c)

7. Yield to Bus laws apply in every Ontario municipality for transit buses that display the Yield to Bus sign. Drivers approaching these buses from the rear in the lane adjacent to the bus bay must, unless it is unsafe to do so, slow down or stop for buses signalling to re-enter traffic from the bus bay.

8. b)

9. Three demerit points

10. You have 15 days from receiving an Offence Notice to pick one of three options: plead guilty with payment out of court, guilty with an explanation or go to trial. If you fail to do so, you are deemed not to dispute the charge and a guilty plea may be entered in your absence.

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