The 3+ HOV lane that exists on the bridge is municipal and is covered by an Ottawa by-law. The provisions of the HTA do not apply. Had you been charged under the NCCTPR, you'd have been guilty. The officer charged you with the wrong offence. If you're in court within six months of the alleged offence date, the officer (not the prosecutor) could theoretically charge you with the "correct" offence. Whether he would, however, would be entirely up to him. My court date was today. After trial, the prosecutor didn't believe it was my first time on this bridge and therefore should have bee...

I am writing this on behalf of a friend because I strongly believe I can help him fight this but wanted the community's input first: 1. He was stopped for not wearing a seatbelt in Cornwall by the Cornwall Police. 2. So, he provided his licence, registration, and proof of insurance. 3. Then, the officer came back and told him he wouldn't give him a ticket for the seatbelt but a ticket for failure to provide insurance because the one he handed him was expired. 4. He simply forgot to put the new proof of insurance in the car when he got it. So he has and had valid insurance at the time he was pu...

I still think what I suggested will work. Signs may have been posted, but I'm guessing from what you've said that (a) there were no "HOV lane ahead" type signs on the Quebec side and (b) the signage did not conform to the Regulation (I believe someone who's in a similar situation said the lane is 3+). The officer clearly charged you under the wrong Act. Ok, thank you. So there is a sign that advises you HOV +3 taxi/bus ahead but it is as soon as you cross the intersection onto the bridge. If you see in my image it says HOV sign furthest left. That arrow is where all of a sudden it t...

You should get the officer to testify as to what he saw. Then ask him or her to describe the signage and road markings. Bring four copies of Regulation 620/05 (the HOV Regulation made under the HTA): one for the officer, one for the JP, one for the prosecutor and one for you to use. Ask the officer if you were on any of the highways specified in the Regulation (obviously you weren't). Ask the officer if the road markings matched what is specified in the Regulation (obviously they don't). You can then easily prove you were charged under the wrong offence. The prosecutor may then try to change ...

You should get the officer to testify as to what he saw. Then ask him or her to describe the signage and road markings. Bring four copies of Regulation 620/05 (the HOV Regulation made under the HTA): one for the officer, one for the JP, one for the prosecutor and one for you to use. Ask the officer if you were on any of the highways specified in the Regulation (obviously you weren't). Ask the officer if the road markings matched what is specified in the Regulation (obviously they don't). You can then easily prove you were charged under the wrong offence. The prosecutor may then try to change ...

So I got the same thing in January. Link: improper-use-of-high-occupancy-vehicle- ... t8039.html

My court date is May 2. I assume I will be going to court before you about this matter, so I can certainly report back with what happened. So far, my understanding is to request them to drop the ticket once I meet with the prosecutor because of the wrong charge and show them that 154.1 (3) only applies to HOV lanes and not the Portage Bridge lane.

That is the same situation as me. From what I understand on that thread, I should meet with the prosecutor on my court date and ask them to drop the charge because it was the incorrect one. To clarify my situation, it was indeed the Ottawa Police and it was 154.1 (3) of the Highway Traffic Act. Whereas it should have been S.4(1) or an Ottawa by-law ticket (from what I am reading on the other thread). In your opinion, what should I bring to the prosecutor to prove to them that I was given the wrong charge and therefore should be getting it dropped altogether? Does my signage defence even hold u...

I was charged under section 154.1 (3) of the Highway Traffic Act.

Hello, I am hoping to get advice on how to proceed with my defence regarding a ticket I received for improper use of a high occupancy vehicle lane on an interprovincial bridge between Hull, QC and Ottawa, ON. The ticket was given in Ottawa by the Ottawa Police. What happened: I was staying at my girlfriend's in Hull, QC because it was close to my new job in Ottawa. This area was brand new to me. Needless to say, I was driving South down Maisonneuve Boulevard in Hull that morning to get to work and cross the bridge to Ottawa. After the intersection between Maisonneuve Boulevard and Laurier Stre...

UPDATE I called multiple lawyers. Only one of them is claiming to fight everything because paying my fine is an admission of guilt. The other lawyers are suggesting to pay everything in full to re-instate my licence and fight the suspension to at least bring it down to a lesser fine (without real hopes of having it withdrawn). I called the prosecutor and gave them hypothetical information without divulging my information or any information on the case, and they said the usual resolution is a plea and a conviction of $500 fine for not having my licence, which will ultimately increase my insura...

How did this go?

Hello, WHAT HAPPENED I forgot to renew my sticker in May, 2014, got stopped in October, 2014, for having an outdated sticker, and was fined $125 in Cornwall. I put the fine in my glove compartment and simply forgot about it. My primary address on my driver's licence is my parents' address in Cornwall, as I live outside of town with roommates in Ottawa for school and work. I don't bother changing my address because I return home in the summer and move to a new place every year in Ottawa, as my roommate situation changes every year. Today, January, 2015, a cop pulled me over in Ottawa because of...