As of July 1, the Ontario government has ended what it termed the educational enforcement period concerning the speed limiter law for commercial trucks.
Trucks that fall under the law include commercial trucks with a gross vehicle weight of 11,794 kg (26,000 lbs.) and more (See the June 2009 issue of Horticulture Review).
The use of portable electronic testing units will provide access to the vehicle engine data and confirm if the limiter has been activated at a speed of 105 km/h or less. It will be necessary for officers to plug into a data port located within the cab of the truck. However, according to news reports, provincial police say that the regulation adopted in January makes 115 kilometres an hour the threshold for charges. As of July 1, police will lay charges if an officer has proof that a large truck is travelling at or above 115 kilometres an hour. The driver may also be charged if the vehicle is not equipped with working speed-limiting system.
Ontario and Quebec have adopted speed limiters and New Brunswick may follow suit. However, other provinces are rejecting the devices, saying they can sometimes make roads less safe.
For more information go to the Ontario government’s website at
www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/trucks/trucklimits.shtml.
