Bill 58, Utility Task and All-Terrain Vehicles Act, 2015

Bill 58 2014

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act with respect to utility task and all-terrain vehicles

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

   1.  (1)  Subsection 191.8 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Off-road vehicles on highways regulated by regulations, by-laws

   (1)  No person shall drive an off-road vehicle on a highway except in accordance with subsection (1.1), the regulations and any applicable municipal by-laws.

UTVs

   (1.1)  A utility task vehicle may be driven on any highway on which an all-terrain vehicle may be driven, and any regulation or by-law that applies to all-terrain vehicles shall also apply to utility task vehicles.

   (2)  Subsection 191.8 (5) of the Act is amended by adding the following definitions:

"all-terrain vehicle" means an off-road vehicle that,

  (a)  has four wheels, the tires of all of which are in contact with the ground,

  (b)  has steering handlebars,

   (c)  has a seat that is designed to be straddled by the driver, and

  (d)  is designed to carry a driver only or to carry a driver and no more than one passenger; ("véhicule polyvalent")

"utility task vehicle" means an off-road vehicle that,

  (a)  is designed for utility applications or uses on all terrains,

  (b)  has four or more wheels,

   (c)  has a seat that is not designed to be straddled by the driver, and

  (d)  is designed to carry a driver and one or more passengers; ("autoquad")

Commencement

   2.  This Act comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.

Short title

   3.  The short title of this Act is the Utility Task and All-Terrain Vehicles Act, 2014.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Highway Traffic Act is amended to provide that no person shall drive an off-road vehicle on a highway except in accordance with the stated exceptions. One of the exceptions is that a utility task vehicle may be driven on any highway on which an all-terrain vehicle may be driven, and that any regulations or by-laws applicable to all-terrain vehicles also apply to utility task vehicles.

A utility task vehicle is defined as an off-road vehicle meeting certain specifications, including the specification that the vehicle is designed to carry a driver and one or more passengers.