Licence fees and fines go up today

Licence validation fees will increase today for Ontario drivers.

Northern Ontario drivers will see an increase from $49 to $54 for passenger vehicle licence validation.

Drivers in southern Ontario will continue to pay double that of northerners for passenger vehilce licence validations, as their fees will see a jump from $98 to $108.

New driver's licences and licence renewals will see a small increase provincewide, from $80 to $81.50.

Commercial vehicle licence validation prices for vehicles weighing 3,000 kg or less will be increasing by the same amount as passenger vehicles in both Northern and southern Ontarios, up to $54 and $108 respectively.

Commercial vehicle licences for vehicles weighing 3,000 kg or more will increase from $98 to $108.

"Costs of maintaining roads, bridges and highways have risen over time, so in keeping with recommendations of the Drummond Commission, since 2012, the government has been gradually increasing fees to help recover costs required to deliver the service or product to customers," said Ajay Woozageer, senior bilingual media liaison officer, Ministry of Transportation, in an email sent to Northern Life.

Along with these increased fees, fines for distracted driving will be getting a steep hike starting Sept. 1, with fines for offenses like texting and driving jumping from $60 to $490 and three demerit points upon conviction.

The fine structure of $400 as the set fine plus an $85 victim fine surcharge (VFS) and $5 court cost has been implemented in an effort to alter driver behaviour, according to Woozageer.

"Increasing penalties for distracted driving is an important tool to help alter driver behaviour, and make hand-held use of cell phones and other hand-held electronic devices, while driving as socially unacceptable as drinking and driving," said Woozageer.

New rules to increase safety for cyclists will come into effect on Sept. 1 as well. Drivers will be required to leave one metre distance, where possible, when passing cyclists. The fine associated with breaking this rule will be $110 and two demetrit points.

Cyclists who don't use required bicycle lights and reflectors also face an increased fine, also set at $110. Drivers who improperly leave doors to their vehicles open and impede or strike cyclists will face an increased penalty of $365 and three demerit points upon conviction.

Failing to slow down for a tow truck with its amber lights flashing can result in a $490 fine.

These are the second set of fee increases this year, with the first set coming in January that saw increases to licence validation fees for farm vehicles and trailers.