Support Bill 152, Chad’s Law (Enforcing Safer Passing) 2023 - by Councillor Paul Ainslie, seconded by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie

The Bill passed First Reading on November 21 and was ordered for Second Reading. It is unclear at this time when that will occur. Bill 152 is named after Chad Bélanger, who was the victim in a head-on collision near Kapuskasing in January of 2022 after a commercial vehicle crossed solid yellow lines to pass another commercial vehicle on a hill. Although Bélanger was not killed, he was seriously injured. Ontario is currently the only province in Canada to not have passing on double yellow lines officially legislated as illegal. A driver can face charges if an accident occurs after passing a solid double yellow line, but the act of passing is not itself illegal. Rather, it is a very strong recommendation to not pass. Currently, charges can be laid regarding unsafe passing on or near hills, bridges, and viaducts under sections 148 and 149 of the Highway Traffic Act. While having these laws on the books is positive, it is a reactionary approach. Oftentimes, police are laying these charges because of a motor vehicle collision. This Bill aims to take a more proactive approach by prohibiting the dangerous passing in the first place. The primary amendment proposed by Bill 152 is the addition of subsections (9) and (10) to section 148 of the Highway Traffic Act. Individuals found contravening the prohibition outlined in subsection (9) would be guilty of an offence. Upon conviction, they would be subject to a fine of $400 and would incur three or more demerit points. Bill 152, Chad's Law (Enforcing Safer Passing), 2023 - Legislative Assembly of Ontario (ola.org)