New fines to reduce number of incidents on lines
Transport Canada is increasing fines on people for trespassing on property where railway lines are located and for not giving way at railway crossings to reduce the number of accidents and incidents on said rail lines.
“The safety and security of all Canadians is of utmost importance for our government. By introducing new measures, such as increases in fines, we are helping to reduce the number of accidents and incidents on Canada’s rail lines and over 20,000 federally regulated crossings,” said Omar Alghabra, minister of transport. “Our government is committed to continuing to work to create an even safer Canada for everyone that also contribute to our country’s economic recovery and building back better.”
The transport department has amended the Contraventions Regulations, with regard to provisions under the Railway Safety Act to increase the fine for trespassing from $100 to $500.
Meanwhile, the fine for not giving way at railway crossings has been pushed from $150 to $750.
Contravention tickets reflecting the increased fine amounts can now be issued, according to the government.
Large moving trains confronted with unexpected obstacles on a rail line cannot stop instantly and this presents an extreme hazard to the life of those inside and outside a moving train, according to the government.
In 2020, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada reported 39 trespassing fatalities for the year. And from 2009 to 2019, Canada reported 724 trespassing accidents.
Recently, Transport Canada published proposed amendments to the Grade Crossings Regulations to ensure the regulations are more effective in focusing the efforts of railway companies, public road authorities and private crossing owners on grade crossings that present the greatest risks to community safety.
It has also approved the changes to the Rules Respecting Track Safety, which specify safety requirements that railway companies must follow when inspecting and maintaining their railway track infrastructure.
