Bill 194, Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Helmet Exemption for Sikh Motorcyclists), 2016

Bill 194 2016

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act to exempt Sikh motorcyclists from the requirement to wear a helmet

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

   1.  (1)  Subsection 104 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act is amended by striking out "No person" at the beginning and substituting "Subject to subsection (1.1), no person".

   (2)  Section 104 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Exemption

   (1.1)  Subsection (1) does not apply to any person who,

  (a)  is a member of the Sikh religion;

  (b)  has unshorn hair; and

   (c)  habitually wears a turban composed of five or more square meters of cloth.

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 (Helmet Exemption for Sikh Motorcyclists), 2016.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Currently, section 104 of the Highway Traffic Act requires persons riding or operating a motorcycle or motor assisted bicycle on a highway to wear a helmet. The Bill exempts members of the Sikh religion who have unshorn hair and who habitually wear turbans from the requirement to wear a helmet.