When is a left turn against a red light legal?
Ontario Transportation Ministry spokesperson Bob Nichols answers your questions on traffic laws.
Q: When driving, do you need to carry along the original ownership and insurance card or will a photocopy do?
A: Under section 7(5) HTA, drivers are required to carry the actual vehicle permit (ownership) or a true copy and surrender it to police for inspection upon request.
Operators of motor vehicles are also required to carry proof of insurance while driving. Section 3 (1) of the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act doesn’t state that a copy is adequate, so an original should be carried.
Eric Lai adds:
Your original drivers licence is also required if stopped by police, although the Ontario Highway Traffic Act does allow that identifying yourself by providing your correct name and address is adequate to avoid a “driver fail to give identification” charge. However, a “driver fail to surrender licence” ticket would still be fair game.
In this context, surrender means to present the document to a police officer for inspection upon request.
Police advise that it’s a common ploy for suspended drivers to provide the name and address of a same-sex sibling rather than own up to driving while suspended. So, if you innocently happen to forget your licence while driving, don’t be surprised if you receive careful scrutiny from police.
As for the vehicle permit, police advise that most officers would be satisfied if presented with a clear, legible photocopy since they are able to independently confirm the particulars via computer or radio.
Q: Are drivers legally allowed to make a left turn against a red light from a one-way street to a one-way street?
A: Yes, section 144(19) HTA does allow drivers to turn left on a red light from a one-way street onto another one-way street (to the left). However, they must first stop for the red traffic signal and yield to traffic in or approaching the intersection before making their turn.
Eric Lai adds:
This action can only be performed if there isn’t a sign posted at the intersection prohibiting it (i.e. no left turn on red or the equivalent symbol).
The turning driver bears the onus to ensure the movement is done in safety without affecting other drivers, cyclists or pedestrians. If a collision occurs, the turning driver would be the first one police look at for charges.
Q: I recall there was an Ontario law that allowed a left-hand turn at a red traffic light if you were at the bottom of a “T” intersection, provided that all directions were clear of traffic. I think this law went into effect around 1980.
Is this law still in effect or has it been taken off the books?
A: The exception permitting left turns on red traffic signals when turning from a one-way street to another one-way street was added to the HTA in 1978 and remains in effect today.
However, there is no law, past or present, that allows a left turn on red at any intersection unless it is from one-way street to another one-way (headed to the left) with the same stipulations as in the previous question.
Readers please note that the information provided above is of a general nature only and should not be taken as legal advice. For specific legal advice, the ministry advises you consult a lawyer or paralegal qualified in this area of law.
Send your non-mechanical questions to Eric Lai care of wheels@thestar.ca. Letter volume prevents personal replies.
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