This page will be updated regularly.  It will feature any updates to current laws that will affect Ontario drivers.  Here you will also find myths and rumours that tend to confuse our new drivers, and the truth behind them.

LEGAL UPDATES

*NEW* 0% blood alcohol under age 22 - Effective August 1st, 2010

Yes, this is correct (and highly controversial) -  this is not a myth.  If you are under the age of 22, you may not have ANY blood alcohol in your system, regardless of the class of licence you hold.  Please follow the link below to the official Ministry of Transportation site for full details on the penalties if you are caught driving after having had even one drink.  Please keep in mind that a police officer has the authority to pull you over for any reason and may ask you to take a breathalyzer for any reason.  Refusing to give a breath sample is in itself a chargeable offence.

There are also stiffer penalties for those who are not technically "drunk" but still have more blood alcohol than lawmakers consider safe, which can also be found here. 

www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/impaired/

"Move Over" Law

This law is designed to protect emergency workers and police officers while on duty.  Section 159 of the the Ontario Highway Traffic Act (H.T.A.) states that vehicles must now slow down and approach with caution any emergency vehicle that is stopped and has its lights flashing, when in the same direction of travel.  If the road has two or more lanes, motorists passing the emergency vehicle must now change lanes to the left, if it is safe to do so.  Failure to do so can result in the following:

First Offence:  $400 to $2000 fine plus 3 demerit points, upon conviction

Second Offence within 5 years:  $1000 to $4000 fine, possible jail time up to 6 months and possible suspension of driver's licence for up to 2 years

G2 passenger restrictions  - Effective September 1, 2005

This law has been in effect since September of 2005, and is geared towards young people (under age 20) who hold a G2 licence.  If you fall into this category, here's how the law applies to you:

Between the hours of midnight and 5:00 a.m., you may have only ONE passenger under the age of 19 in your vehicle.  This law will continue to apply to you only for the first six months that you have your G2 licence or until you turn 20.  After that, you may carry up to three passengers under the age of 19.  This law will no longer apply to you once you have your G licence, regardless of how old you are.  There are a couple of exceptions to this law, namely:

- A fully licenced (G-licenced) driver with a minimum of four years of driving experience is in the front passenger seat.

- The 'under 19' passengers are members of your immediate family.

MYTHS & RUMOURS DEBUNKED

"Are they going to increase the waiting periods for graduated licensing?"

It has been speculated that the Ministry of Transportation is going to increase the length of time within each level of licence before drivers may take a road test to upgrade to the next level.  In April of 2009, Gord's Driving School received word that such changes were in the works and could take effect as early as summer of 2010.  However, as of the update of this website (fall 2010) there have been no changes to current legislation.  The waiting period between the G1 and G2 licence is still 12 months (reduced to 8 months for Ministry-Approved course graduates) and 12 months between the G2 and G licence.  If the Ministry does decide to change the waiting period, this page will be updated accordingly.

Keep in mind that it is not necessary to actually wait until you have had a licence for the full waiting period before you will be allowed to make your road test appointment - the Drive Test Centre will simply not allow you to choose a date before your waiting period is up.

"Are they going to change the law so that you can't get your G1 licence until you're 18?"

No. Rest assured, this one is a myth and it's as old as the hills.  But if the law does change, we'll let you know.

"I heard I can write my G1 test while I'm still 15."

This is incorrect.  Everyone must be at least 16 years of age before they will be allowed to write a test to obtain a G1 licence.  A G1 licence allows you to drive and as stated on our FAQ's page, no one may drive before they are 16 years old.