Motorists should think twice before heading down roads that have been closed due to weather conditions, construction or other factors.
The Manitoba government's amendments to the Highway Traffic Act under Bill 46 starts July 1st and creates new offences for driving on a road that has been closed to traffic.
Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk says it's about keeping people safe. "We have heard from the RCMP that drivers ignore road closure signs and barricades and proceed to use roads that have been closed due to severe weather and other hazardous conditions."
"This puts motorists, law enforcement, emergency responders, operators of snow-clearing equipment and road maintenance staff in danger. That is why our government has enacted an amendment to the Highway Traffic Act to make it an offence to drive on closed roads."
Amendments to the preset fines and offence description regulation under the Provincial Offences Act establish the following preset fines for new Highway Traffic Act offences:
$298 for driving a light vehicle (such as a car, SUV or pick-up truck) on a closed road;
$672 for directing a person, such as an employee, to drive a light vehicle on a closed road;
$672 for driving a heavy vehicle on a closed road; and
$1,296 for directing a person, such as an employee, to drive a heavy vehicle on a closed road.
"If someone is on a stretch of road or highway this is closed, they'll have the opportunity to reach the next community without police giving them a ticket," said Piwniuk.
In addition to fines, individuals convicted of driving on a closed road will be penalized two demerit points. Law enforcement will also have the option of sending drivers to court in very serious cases where fines may be applied of up to $2,000 for offences involving light vehicles and up to $5,000 for offences involving heavy trucks and buses, the minister noted.
"Far too many times we have seen vehicles ignore the barricades or find ways around them, such as using service roads, and it is very dangerous," said Insp. Michael Gagliardi, officer in charge of traffic services, Manitoba RCMP. "It has always been illegal to go around a road-closure barricade, but these amendments provide a more effective way for us to enforce this type of offence as it is now a specific charge under the Highway Traffic Act. This will help us in our efforts to keep Manitoba roads safe for everyone."
The amendments bring Manitoba in line with other provinces including British Columbia, Ontario and Saskatchewan, which have already made it an offence to drive on closed roads.
"The fines are set through the Department of Justice and there will be larger fines, especially for commercial vehicles. If a truck driver is pressured by his company to keep going onto closed roads, we can fine the company."