Bill 154 2015

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act to create an offence of contravention causing death or serious bodily harm

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

   1.  The Highway Traffic Act is amended by adding the following Part:

Part x.0.1
contravention causing death or serious bodily harm

Contravention causing death or serious bodily harm

   191.0.2  (1)  Every person who, while contravening this Act or the regulations, causes, or contributes to causing, an accident that causes the death of a person or serious bodily harm to a person is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than twelve months, or both, and in addition his or her licence or permit may be suspended for a period of up to twelve months.

Increased suspension time

   (2)  If the court sentencing the offender under subsection (1) orders the imprisonment of the offender and the suspension of his or her licence or permit, the suspension is increased by the period of imprisonment.

Commencement

   2.  This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

   3.  The short title of this Act is the Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Contraventions Causing Death or Serious Bodily Harm), 2015.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Highway Traffic Act. If a person causes or contributes to causing an accident which causes death or serious bodily harm, and at the time the person was contravening the Highway Traffic Act or its regulations, then the person is guilty of an offence. The court may sentence the person to a fine of up to $5,000, or to imprisonment for up to twelve months, or both. The court may also suspend the person's licence or permit.