Extending the Reduced Suspension Program, Clarifying Long-term Vehicle Impoundment Rules and Making Other Consequential Amendments to Enhance Ontario's Impaired Driving Programs under the Making Ontario's Roads Safer, 2015
Regulation Number(s):
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Highway Traffic Act (HTA)
Summary of Decision:
Effective July 1, 2018, Ontario Regulation O Reg. 251/02, O Reg. 287/08, O Reg. 415/10 , O Reg. 631/98 were modified to improve road safety by:
• Allowing more drivers to enroll in ignition interlock (II) and remedial measures.
• Ensuring Ontario's vehicle impoundment program (VIP) program is being applied more consistently and effectively.
• Ensuring MTO's impaired driving programs are consistently designed and efficiently delivered.
All comments were carefully considered and stakeholder consultations were held with road safety stakeholders, enforcement, service providers and municipalities. Those consulted were generally supportive of the amendments.
Changes as a result of the regulation will come into effect on July 1 2018.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) conducted a preliminary regulatory impact assessment and determined that there are no major administrative costs for business as the only individuals who would be impacted by these changes are drivers who have committed an offence under the Highway Traffic Act.
Service providers who administer MTO's Remedial Education and Monitoring programs will be impacted, as they may have to amend their products including brochures, registration packages, service agreements, and their website. However, they will also be receiving an influx of users with more individuals now able to apply to Ontario's ignition interlock program.
LGIC regulatory change filed with Registrar of Regulations on April 16, 2018.
Further Information:
Proposal Number:
18-MTO003
Posting Date:
January 18, 2018
Summary of Proposal:
On June 2, 2015, the Making Ontario's Roads Safer, 2015 (formerly Bill 31) received Royal Assent. Among its various amendments, the Act, and its supporting regulations, addresses the issue of impaired driving. The changes with respect to impaired driving are being implemented in two phases.
Phase 1 was implemented October 2, 2016. This phase included expanding alcohol impaired sanctions to drug impaired drivers; and expanding remedial measures program and ignition interlock requirements to all drivers that accumulate any combination of administrative suspensions associated with alcohol or drug-impaired driving. The ministry is now preparing to implement phase 2, which would extend the reduced suspension program, clarify long-term vehicle impoundment rules and make amendments to clarify impaired driving program requirements. These proposed changes would be implemented July 1, 2018.
The ministry is now soliciting public feedback on these proposed changes. Please see the attached summary for more details. We invite you to submit comments on these proposals for your consideration.
Contact Address:
Ministry of Transportation Road Safety Policy Office
Safety Policy and Education Branch 87 Sir William Hearst Avenue Building "A", Room 212
Toronto, Ontario M3M 0B4
Effective Date:
July 1, 2018
Decision:
Approved