A New Year Brings New Rules For Drivers

DRIVING LAWS:

• drivers now required to remain stopped at a pedestrian or school crossing until the person crossing the street and the school crossing guard are off the roadway; the old rule allowed drivers to proceed once the person crossing and the school crossing guard were no longer on the driver’s half of the roadway
• pedestrians are prohibited, by law, from entering a crosswalk if a vehicle is too close to stop
• municipalities have the power to chase out-of-province vehicle owners for certain traffic tickets
• all insurance companies in Ontario must provide a discount for drivers who buy and install winter tires

FEES:

• the annual fee for a vehicle permit, number plate and validation fees for a trailer rises to $59 from $53
• the annual validation fee for farm vehicles rises from $123 to $140 for smaller vehicles and from $975 to $1,100 for heavier vehicles
• the penalty applied to unpaid fines under the Provincial Offences Act jumps to $40 from $20
• new fee of $50 for drivers who must attend demerit point interviews for bad driving; those who don’t pay the fee will have their driver’s licence cancelled