Traveling though Ontario

[K2KOH]

Good morning. I'll be traveling through Ontario from New York to Michigan. I have a Home Patrol 2 mounted on my windshield. Am I going to have a problem entering and traveling in Canada with the mobile scanner? Thanks!

 

[mciupa]

Not at all.

Our Highway Traffic Act addresses devices in this subsection.

(4)  This section is revoked on January 1, 2018. O. Reg. 366/09, s. 12 (4), O. Reg. 253/12, s. 2 (3).

Time-limited exemption for amateur radio operators

13.  (1)  Drivers who hold a valid radio operator certificate issued under the Radiocommunication Act (Canada) may drive a motor vehicle on a highway while holding or using a two-way radio. O. Reg. 366/09, s. 13 (1), O. Reg. 253/12, s. 3 (1).

(2)  This section is revoked on January 1, 2018. O. Reg. 366/09, s. 13 (2), O. Reg. 253/12, s. 3 (2).

Exemption for pressing buttons

14.  (1)  A person may drive a motor vehicle on a highway while pressing a button on a hand-held wireless communication device to make, answer or end a cell phone call or to transmit or receive voice communication on a two-way radio if the device is placed securely in or mounted to the motor vehicle so that it does not move while the vehicle is in motion and the driver can see it at a quick glance and easily reach it without adjusting his or her driving position. O. Reg. 366/09, s. 14 (1). 

(2)  A person may drive a motor vehicle on a highway while pressing a button on a device that is worn on his or her head or hung over or placed inside his or her ear or is attached to his or her clothing and is linked to a hand-held wireless communication device to make, answer or end a cell phone call or to transmit or receive voice communication on a two-way radio or a hand microphone or portable radio. O. Reg. 366/09, s. 14 (2).

While not about scanners per se, I think an enforcement officer would use discretion here. If your HomePatrol is firmly in place so that you can view it with a quick glance and not have to hold it in your hand, everything sounds good.

They are taking distracted driving seriously here, fines have increased and there are blitzes from time to time.

I see you are an Amateur Radio operator, so feel free to call in while en route (that's root not rowt )

My cousins use that way when travelling from Rochester NY to Grand Rapids, MI.

 

[troubleshooter1]

No problem with the scanner or the ham rig, but leave the AR-15 in your avatar at home!

 

[torontokris]

Do you have a GPS connected to it? Do not change the co-ordinates/play with it while driving... local/provincial police are specifically looking for any handheld communication device use while driving (typically cell phone).. but would give them reason to pull you over.

While you maybe exempt / maybe win your case in court... its not worth the trip back 6 months from now just to show up in court.

Wish Uniden had put a GPS built in.. I guess that will be the HP-3 or HP-G as in GPS.

Also dont speed... anything 50km/over the speed limit you loose your car on the spot for a week! It ha happened to US citizens coming to Canada.. had to find their own way home.

Good morning. I'll be traveling through Ontario from New York to Michigan. I have a Home Patrol 2 mounted on my windshield. Am I going to have a problem entering and traveling in Canada with the mobile scanner? Thanks!

 

[neoengel]

Hi there fellow HP user

I suspect you'll be taking the 401 to 6 and then 403 onto the particular bridge to NY.

Setting it so you get Bellfleetnet Zone 1 will get you the OPP channels along that route. Highway 6 is Hamilton territory in that Corridor and enc.

I cannot echo enough what folks have said about holding onto electronic devices while driving in Ontario, and from experience I can say your US plate will be a magnet for cops trying to write easy tickets. Almost experienced the same in Arkansas until I pointed out the dashcam which called out that troopers BS

I digress, lots to listen to and enjoy the ride

 

[EJB]

Good morning. I'll be traveling through Ontario from New York to Michigan. I have a Home Patrol 2 mounted on my windshield. Am I going to have a problem entering and traveling in Canada with the mobile scanner? Thanks!

If you want a list of the towers and OPP talkgroups for your trip I would be happy to provide you with a list.
As others have said, don't go more than 130, thats what 80 MPH. To be honest though I found your state troopers to be meaner than the OPP.

Have a nice trip. And fill up before you cross, Gas is up to around a buck a litre again.

 

[CanWoodsman]

If you have a radar detector it will be a far bigger problem.
Even turned off in the vehicle is an offence.
Generally if you stay at within 15 kph (10 mph) of the posted speed limit you'll not have a problem.

 

[mike_art03a]

Poiting out what others have said, here's a quick speed conversion chart for ya (common speeds used here in Canada)

100 km/h = ~65 mph
90 km/h = ~55 mph
70 km/h = ~43-45 mph
50 km/h = ~30 mph
30 km/h = ~15 mph

 

[frankh]

FWIW when the OPP are doing one of their speeder interdiction fund raisers they start calling out vehicle descriptions at 121 kph so it would be best to stay under 120 kph

 

[EJB]

If you have a radar detector it will be a far bigger problem.
Even turned off in the vehicle is an offence.
Generally if you stay at within 15 kph (10 mph) of the posted speed limit you'll not have a problem.

With a out of province plate I would agree that 15-20 km's over might get you a ticket but I listen enough to laser and radar 'fundraisers' and they don't go after anyone doing less than 130 (roughly just under 80- MPH)

 

[EJB]

Good morning. I'll be traveling through Ontario from New York to Michigan. I have a Home Patrol 2 mounted on my windshield. Am I going to have a problem entering and traveling in Canada with the mobile scanner? Thanks!

If you would like I can provide you with a list of towers that you will be able to monitor specifically as you drive thru Ontario. If you cross at Buffalo or Niagara Falls don't take the Queenston Lewiston Bridge, if you have NEXUS you can cross at the Whirlpool bridge, it's a NEXUS only bridge, if you don't have NEXUS either the Peace Bridge in Buffalo or the Rainbow bridge are fine.

For instance the Skylon tower and the Fonthill towers cover you thru the Niagara region (county) then you switch to Charlton tower once you enter Hamilton city. Niagara and Burlington (the city next to Hamilton, which covers the highways in the city of Hamilton) OPP districts are dispatched from a town called Orillia and both detachments are patched together. All detachments dispatched by Orillia will have a '5' indicated, i.e. Niagara cars are 5 Golf and Burlington cars are 5 Charlie.

Once you get on the 403 west bound (I can give you a few shortcuts to save you about 30 min) and you pass into Brant County you switch to the area dispatched by London and all OPP cars dispatched by London will have a '6' in front of the ID, so a Brant County OPP car, you will hear '6 Bravo 1xx';
And the tower will be Brantford until you hit Woodstock where the 403 meets the 401. And the tower for this area is Woodstock.

After driving thru Woodstock in Oxford County you will then pick up the Byron tower in London city in Middlesex County. After that there are towers that will cover you until you cross at Windsor, If you intend to cross on the 402 at Sarnia/Port Huron there are a few guys who can give you the towers to listen for the area.

I urge you to create a system for Fleetnet instead of just using the GPS to provide you with the database, this is only because Fleetnet has the Ems providers, Highway Road, Ministry of Transportation Enforcement units and the Ministry of Resources. And the Ems and MTO and MTOE are very busy, you'll miss calls unless you specifically set up a scan list with specific talkgroups. I know, it defeats the entire purpose of the Home Patrol, set it up without programming but I can either provide you with a file or give you a list of talkgroups to make your trip more enjoyable.

Check out the WIKI pages, I wrote a few articles on specific towers, Brantford, Cayuga and Charlton.

Please pm me if you want a file and enjoy your trip thru Ontario, gas up before you cross, gas is back up to about a buck a litre which is about $60 with no exchange factored in for 16 gallons (60 litres) and you will find that if you need advise, shortcuts, places to buy cuban cigars, lol I or others can help you out,

 

[CanWoodsman]

With a out of province plate I would agree that 15-20 km's over might get you a ticket but I listen enough to laser and radar 'fundraisers' and they don't go after anyone doing less than 130 (roughly just under 80- MPH)

I guess it may depend on the area your in but if your over the posted limit by 50 km's it will get you nailed every time in the area I'm in (vehicle impounded + a court date) & over 20 km's will also get you a fine in many cases.

 

[sirsmiley]

If you keep it a shade under 100km in the 80 zone youll be fine, if you go over 100 youll get a ticket in the 80s. In the 100km areas keep it about 120 and under and you wont have a problem

 

[frankh]

With a out of province plate I would agree that 15-20 km's over might get you a ticket but I listen enough to laser and radar 'fundraisers' and they don't go after anyone doing less than 130 (roughly just under 80- MPH)

Get caught at 130kph ridgetown to windsor and you will be making a donation. I travel the 401 corridor frequently listening to a scanner and this is my experience.
Bad advise ejb

 

[EJB]

Get caught at 130kph ridgetown to windsor and you will be making a donation. I travel the 401 corridor frequently listening to a scanner and this is my experience.
Bad advise ejb

I said below 130.

If they are doing laser and radar they generally don't go after you unless you are going 130 or more.
If you are doing 120-9 there is a chance that you will get clipped. Then again I havent driven out to Windsor now for 19 years.

 

[ratpatrol]

thanks

ejb

thanks for the great write up. this is good for people in the toronto gta as well

john

 

[K2KOH]

Thank you one and all for the responses. I can see this should be a great trip through Ontario. neoengel I will be coming from the Peace Bridge, and heading to Sault Ste. Marie and then heading to US 2 for the remainder to Bayfield, WI. I figure a change in route is due.

 

[EJB]

There are alerts along the Thruway near Buffalo with wait times to cross. If there is a large delay on the Peace Bridge you can take the I290 to the I190 and then take the Robert Moses Parkway to the Rainbow bridge.

You would be wise to avoid Toronto, anywhere within 50 miles (85 Km) during rush hours (from 6AM-10AM, then from 2pm-7pm). You can probably take the QEW to HWY 6 North to HWY 89 back to the 400 or Hwy 11.

It's too bad this is a winter trip, you could save a good deal of time if the ferry from Tobermory to Manitoulin Island, rejoin Hwy 6 North to the TransCanada Hwy HWY17, it's a nice drive from the Greater Toronto area up Hwy 6 and there is no traffic up that way.

Offer still stands if you need any help with the Ontario Provincial Police, where and what to monitor, until you reach I think Zone 3 of the provincial system in Muskoka.

 

[smoothrunnings]

I would like to add you should always go with the flow of the traffic in Ontario. Keep a safe distance behind people and don't pass people or weave and out of traffic. If you see an OPP car on the highway doing the speed limit it's OK to do 5kmph faster than him; people here tend to bunch up behind them for no reason. LOL

Just remember you are an outsider so if you do anything that isn't safe you'll be the first one they'll stop. Also to keep in mind any traffic tickets that you get while in Canada will still be reflected on your US driving record.

Drive safe and have fun!

 

[EJB]

I would like to add you should always go with the flow of the traffic in Ontario. Keep a safe distance behind people and don't pass people or weave and out of traffic. If you see an OPP car on the highway doing the speed limit it's OK to do 5kmph faster than him; people here tend to bunch up behind them for no reason. LOL

Just remember you are an outsider so if you do anything that isn't safe you'll be the first one they'll stop. Also to keep in mind any traffic tickets that you get while in Canada will still be reflected on your US driving record.

Drive safe and have fun!

Heard aircraft and laser traps today, somewhere in the London dispatch zone this afternoon. As I mentioned, they were looking for anyone 130 km and over.

I don't recommend anyone going anything over 120 thou. The flow of traffic in good weather with good conditions is 110-120 anyways.