1st Session, 40th Legislature
This version is based on the printed bill that was distributed in the Legislature after First Reading. It is not the official version. If accuracy is critical, you can obtain a copy of the printed bill from Statutory Publications or view the online bilingual version (PDF).
Bill 37
THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AMENDMENT AND SUMMARY CONVICTIONS AMENDMENT ACT (BICYCLE HELMETS)
| Explanatory Note | Bilingual version (PDF) |
(Assented to )
HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:
PART 1
THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT
The Highway Traffic Act is amended by this Part.
The following is added after section 145:
Cyclists and passengers under 18 must wear helmets
A person who is under 18 years of age must wear a properly fitted and fastened protective helmet at all times when he or she
(a) drives a bicycle;
(b) rides a bicycle as a passenger; or
(c) rides on or is towed in anything that is attached to or towed by a bicycle.
The helmet must be suitable for cycling use.
Parents' and guardians' responsibility re children
A child's parent or guardian must not allow the child to
(a) drive a bicycle;
(b) ride a bicycle as a passenger; or
(c) ride on or be towed in anything that is attached to or towed by a bicycle;
unless the child wears a properly fitted and fastened protective helmet that is suitable for cycling use.
Driver's responsibility re child passengers
At all times when a child is a passenger on a bicycle, or on or in anything attached to or towed by a bicycle, the bicycle's driver must ensure that the child is wearing a properly fitted and fastened protective helmet that is suitable for cycling use.
Exception for private property
This section applies wherever a bicycle is driven within Manitoba except
(a) on privately owned residential property, including privately owned seasonal residential property; and
(b) on privately owned non-commercial or agricultural property outside an urban municipality on which the cyclist has permission to drive the bicycle from a person who owns or has control over the property.
A person who contravenes subsection (1), (2) or (3) is guilty of an offence and, subject to subsection (7), is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $50.
Children under age 14 not subject to penalty
Subsection (5) does not apply to a person who contravenes subsection (1), (2) or (3) if the person is under 14 years of age at the time of the contravention.
Alternative disposition for first offence
When a person's contravention under this section is the person's first offence or, if the regulations extend the application of this subsection, is a subsequent offence,
(a) the person must fulfill the requirements of the regulations applicable to the offence; and
(b) if a justice is satisfied that the person has fulfilled the applicable requirements of the regulations, the justice must stay the proceeding in respect of the offence.
Peace officer to give notice of alternative disposition
A peace officer who issues an offence notice under The Summary Convictions Act for a contravention of subsection (1), (2) or (3) must
(a) inform the accused person about the requirements of subsection (7); and
(b) must, in the offence notice, provide a response period of sufficient length to allow the person a reasonable opportunity to fulfill the applicable requirements of the regulations, having regard to the accused person's circumstances.
The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations
(a) for the purpose of subsection (7),
(i) respecting requirements that are to be fulfilled by persons who contravene subsection (1), (2) or (3), and
(ii) extending the application of that subsection to second or subsequent contraventions of any of subsections (1), (2) and (3), and prescribing which of the requirements established under subclause (i) apply to a second or subsequent contravention;
(b) respecting any matter the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary or advisable to carry out the purposes of this section.
145.0.1(10) A regulation made under subsection (9) may be general or particular in its application and may apply in whole or in part to one or more classes of persons to the exclusion of others, and to the whole or any part of the province.
The following is added after subsection 239(2):
Non-application to bicycle helmet offences
Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to a contravention of section 145.0.1.
Clause 319(1)(ccc.1) is replaced with the following:
(ccc.1) respecting protective helmets for persons driving or riding on bicycles or power-assisted bicycles, or riding on or being towed in things attached to or towed by bicycles, including prescribing suitable helmets for the purpose of section 145.0.1;
PART 2
THE SUMMARY CONVICTIONS ACT
The Summary Convictions Act is amended by this Part.
The following is added after section 4:
Non-application to bicycle helmet offences
Section 4 does not apply to a contravention of subsection 145.0.1(1), (2) or (3) of The Highway Traffic Act.
The following is added after subsection 13(4):
Procedure regarding bicycle helmet offences
When a person is alleged to have contravened subsection 145.0.1(1), (2) or (3) of The Highway Traffic Act, a proceeding under this Act is subject to the requirements of subsection 145.0.1(7) of that Act and any regulations made under that Act for the purpose of that subsection.
Clause 21(1.1)(b) is replaced with the following:
(b) an offence
(i) under The Highway Traffic Act, other than an offence under section 145.0.1 of that Act,
(ii) under The Drivers and Vehicles Act, or
(iii) under a regulation made under either of those Acts.
PART 3
COMING INTO FORCE
This Act comes into force on a day to be fixed by proclamation.