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EUCs and the law in Canada


RooEUC

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[MOD EDIT: This was superceded by https://forum.electricunicycle.org/topic/13120-euc-legality-in-canada ]

 

I read through the thread that's currently in progress, talking about EUC legality in the USA.  I would be very interested to hear what our Canadian members currently think about the legal situation for EUC riding in Canada.  I live in Ontario and I have passed police 5 times in the last 10 months.  On two occasions I rode past cops parked in their cars in a semi-rural area.  Neither cop said anything to me.  But one of them stared at me with a less than friendly expression.  On another occasion, I was riding very slowly on a rural road (on the side one should walk on, which faces oncoming traffic) and a cop car came up on the other side from behind, passed by me very slowly, then stopped about 20m ahead, watched me ride past and said nothing.  On the other two occasions I rode past cops standing with their mountain bikes in a public river bank park downtown and nothing was said. 

I have read on this forum about a member in British Columbia being threatened with an expensive fine and the confiscation of his wheel.  I believe EUCs are technically illegal to ride on public roads or pavements in Canada, or that that at least occupy a legal grey area.  But at least in Ontario, most cops may be either unaware of the particular laws around these vehicles, or just unconcerned.  In rural areas especially, I can't imagine the cops where I live having much of an issue with me riding carefully along the road to get to the post office or to visit my elderly neighbour.  However, I still carry on my shoulders with every ride, the fear of being given a ticket or just a telling off, should a cop be educated in the laws for these devices and be having a bad day.

I would love to hear from other Canadian residents about this.

Edited by RagingGrandpa
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42 minutes ago, RooMiniPro said:

I read through the thread that's currently in progress, talking about EUC legality in the USA.  I would be very interested to hear what our Canadian members currently think about the legal situation for EUC riding in Canada.  I live in Ontario and I have passed police 5 times in the last 10 months.  On two occasions I rode past cops parked in their cars in a semi-rural area.  Neither cop said anything to me.  But one of them stared at me with a less than friendly expression.  On another occasion, I was riding very slowly on a rural road (on the side one should walk on, which faces oncoming traffic) and a cop car came up on the other side from behind, passed by me very slowly, then stopped about 20m ahead, watched me ride past and said nothing.  On the other two occasions I rode past cops standing with their mountain bikes in a public river bank park downtown and nothing was said. 

I have read on this forum about a member in British Columbia being threatened with an expensive fine and the confiscation of his wheel.  I believe EUCs are technically illegal to ride on public roads or pavements in Canada, or that that at least occupy a legal grey area.  But at least in Ontario, most cops may be either unaware of the particular laws around these vehicles, or just unconcerned.  In rural areas especially, I can't imagine the cops where I live having much of an issue with me riding carefully along the road to get to the post office or to visit my elderly neighbour.  However, I still carry on my shoulders with every ride, the fear of being given a ticket or just a telling off, should a cop be educated in the laws for these devices and be having a bad day.

I would love to hear from other Canadian residents about this.

@Hunka Hunka Burning Love...

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  • 3 months later...

I'm getting a V10F in the mail shortly and was reading horror stories. I've been commuting to work when the weather was good since October on my 9B1 C+. I've passed cops as well without issues - I have a headlight and red flashing tail light and wear a helmet and wrist guards. Maybe they are not aware of the laws or confusion because I'm the only one in Sarnia Ontario riding one.....(so far).

 

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  • 3 years later...

Hi there, and welcome to the forum. It looks like the last time Harold visited the forum was Dec. of 2019.

 I wouldn’t hold my breath while waiting for a reply !

You haven’t seen him wheeling around town yet ?

All the best,

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