Anyone driving a vehicle in Ontario must keep on his person his valid driver's license. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), as well as municipal police forces, may ask any driver to surrender her license for inspection at any time. According to the Highway Traffic Act, driving a vehicle while in possession of an expired, altered or counterfeit driver's license carries a fine ranging from CAD$400 to CAD$50,000. It is also illegal for any resident under 16 years of age to drive a vehicle in the province.
The Highway Traffic Act provides speed limits for roads in municipalities and rural areas. The maximum speed limit on highways that run through cities is 50 km (about 31 miles) per hour, while the limit on highways running through suburbs or townships is 80 km (about 50 miles) per hour. The act also permits municipal governments to set lower speed limits in school zones.
The Ministry of Transport may close any section of a provincial highway at any time, prohibiting most vehicles from entering, with the exception of ambulances, firefighters, police cars or people traveling in vehicles operated by public utility companies. The government of Ontario, however, is not liable for any injury to individuals using closed highways for any reason or for damage to their vehicles.
