Highway Traffic Act (Ontario)
The Highway Traffic Act (HTA) (the Act) is legislation in Ontario, Canada, which regulates the licensing of vehicles, classification of traffic offences, administration of loads, classification of vehicles and other transport-related issues. First introduced in 1923 to deal with increasing accidents during the early years of motoring in Ontario, and replacing earlier legislation such as the "Highway Travel Act", there have been amendments due to changes to driving conditions and new transportation trends. For example, in 2009, the Act was revised to ban the use of cell phones while driving. Offences under the "Highway Traffic  Act" are the most commonly tried in Provincial Offences court. Over 1.3 million offences are tried each year under the Act, with the most common charges being speeding (559,013 occurrences, s. 128 - Speeding), running a red light (127,836 occurrences, s. 144 - Red light - proceed before green), driving whilst disqualified (117,470 counts, s. 7 - Drive motor vehicle, no currently validated permit), fail to stop (51,263 counts, s. 136 - Disobey stop sign - fail to stop) and telephoning whilst driving (51,210 counts, s. 78.1 - Drive - hand-held communication device). Sections. Section 1 of the Act covers definitions and application of the Act to  places other than highways. The definition of "highway" in the Act is broad in nature to include "a common and public highway, street, avenue, parkway, driveway, square, place, bridge, viaduct or trestle, any part of which is intended for or used by the general public for the passage of vehicles and includes the area between the lateral property lines thereof". Part I: Administration. Part I covers the following items in sections 2 to 5 of the Act: Part II: Permits. Part II covers the following items in sections 6 to 23 of the Act: Part III: Parking Permits. Part III  covers the following items in sections 26 to 30 of the Act: Part IV: Licences. Part IV covers the following items in sections 31 to 58 of the Act: Part V: Garage and Storage Licences. Part V covers the following items in sections 59 to 60: Part VI: Equipment. Part VI covers the following items in sections 61 to 107 of the Act: Part VII: Load and Dimensions. Part VII covers the following items in sections 108 to 113 of the Act: Part VIII: Weight. Part VIII covers the following items in sections 114 to 127 of the Act: Part  IX: Rate of Speed. Part IX covers the following items in sections 128 to 132 of the Act: Part X: Rules of the Road. Part X covers the following items in sections 133 to 191 of the Act: Part X.1: Toll Highways. Part X.1 covers the following items in section 191 of the Act: Part X.2: Medical Transportation Services. Part X.2 covers the following items in section 191 of the Act: Part X.3: Off-Road Vehicles. Part X.3 covers the following item in section 191 of the Act: Part XI: Civil Proceedings. Part XI covers the following items in sections  191 to 193 of the Act: Part XII: Municipal By-Laws. Part XII covers the following item in section 195 of the Act: Part XIII: Suspension for Failure to Pay Judgements or Meet Support Obligations. Part XIII covers the following items in sections 196 to 198 of the Act: Part XIV: Records and Reporting of Accidents and Convictions. Part XIV covers the following items in sections 199 to 205 of the Act: Part XIV.1: Photo-Radar System Evidence. Part XIV.1 covers the following items in section 205 of the Act: Part XIV.2: Red Light Camera System Evidence. Part XIV.2 covers  the following items in section 205 of the Act: Part XV: Procedure, Arrests and Penalties. Part XV covers the following items in sections 207 to 227 of the Act: Part XVI: Pilot Projects. Part XVI covers the following items in section 228 and Schedule of the Act: Regulations. The following Regulations are made under the Act: