Police are reminding residents about the rules governing low-speed vehicles following a traffic stop that led to charges against a driver in the Barnardo Avenue and O’Carroll Avenue area.
Officers from the Peterborough Police Service Traffic Management Unit stopped a vehicle classified as an LSV around 11:30 a.m. on June 9th. The driver was charged under the Highway Traffic Act Regulation for operating the vehicle not in accordance with regulations and for operating it on a highway without insurance.
Low-speed vehicles are defined as four-wheeled electric vehicles designed to travel between 32 km/h and 40 km/h on paved surfaces, with a gross vehicle weight rating under 1,361 kilograms. They are intended for use primarily on streets where access is legally controlled.
The Traffic Management Unit noted that some operators have referred to these vehicles as “enclosed mobility devices,” a term that is incorrect under the law. Because LSVs are regulated vehicles, they can only be driven on municipal roadways if a by-law permits it. Peterborough does not have such a by-law, meaning use of LSVs on city roads is prohibited.
Residents caught operating LSVs on Peterborough roads risk being stopped and charged under the Highway Traffic Act Regulations. Police urge anyone considering use of these vehicles to familiarize themselves with the applicable rules to avoid penalties.
