Increase fines imposed on cyclists

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Marika Simard

Friday, 30 march 2018 18:53

UPDATE
Friday, 30 march 2018 18:53

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The Quebec government maintains its position to raise the fines imposed on cyclists offenders. These increases represent a rise of 430 %.

According to Vélo Québec, it will be difficult to move from theory to practice because the fines which previously ranged from $ 15 to $ 30 reduced to $ 80 for a first offence and $ 100 for a second fault.

“You should know that when sanctions are too severe, the police are reluctant to issue tickets. It can create a certain discomfort,” notes Magali Bebronne, project manager at Vélo Québec.

For example, a cyclist will be issued with a fine of $ 80 if it has not affixed reflectors on his bike, while a motorist who walked around with a headlight broken receives a fine of $60.

“We find it completely unfair increases in proposed penalties for cyclists. We advocate a sliding scale of penalties depending on the dangerousness of the gesture”, she adds.

Together, Vélo Québec and the business man Louis Garneau request that the cost of tickets increases in a gradual manner.

“I am a peaceful, I do not want people to enter into war with the bikers as soon as the first signs of spring,” said Mr. Garneau. Maybe we could give tickets of $ 50 rather than $80.”

These new measures, presented by the Québec government in December last, are intended to tighten the security of vulnerable people on the road, including cyclists. In 2016, the SAAQ had recorded eight deaths of cyclists on the roads of Quebec.