Bill 123 2019

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act respecting electric vehicle charging stations

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 iii.1
Electric vehicle charging Stations

Definitions

30.1  In this Part,

“electric vehicle” means,

  (a)  a battery electric vehicle that runs only on a battery and an electric drive train, or

  (b)  a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that runs on a battery and an electric drive train, and also uses an internal combustion engine; (“véhicule électrique”)

“electric vehicle charging station” means a publicly or privately-owned parking space that provides access to equipment that supplies a source of electricity for charging electric vehicles. (“station de recharge pour véhicules électriques”)

Improper use

30.2  No person shall leave a vehicle unattended in an electric vehicle charging station unless the vehicle is an electric vehicle and the vehicle is attached to the station’s charging equipment.

Penalty

30.3  A person who contravenes section 30.2 is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of $125.

Regulations

30.4  The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations providing for any matters which, in the opinion of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, are necessary or advisable for the purposes of this Part, including,

  (a)  requiring the erection of signs and the placing of markings to identify electric vehicle charging stations, and prescribing the types, content and location of the signs and markings;

  (b)  providing for exemptions from this Part.

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 Reserved Parking for Electric Vehicle Charging Act, 2019.

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Highway Traffic Act to add Part III.1, which provides that no person shall park a vehicle in an electric vehicle charging station unless the vehicle is an electric vehicle and it is attached to the station’s charging equipment. The Part also sets out a penalty for any contravention.