G and M1 Licence Restrictions?

Joots

Joots

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Hello all, I'm new and just working on getting my licence now. I just did my M1 test today and passed (yay!). I have already booked the rider's training at Learning Curves for a few weeks away. My question is, while at the DriveTest office, I was talking to another guy there, who said even though I have a full G licence (and have had it for a few years now), that some of the M1 restrictions now apply to my G licence too.

Does anyone know how true this is, and which ones? I was most worried about the no night driving one, but there's also the Zero BAC restriction too (not that I ever drink and drive). I asked at the centre, but the staff wasn't sure. I just don't want to be caught in a situation where my licence could be in jeopardy based on violating one of the restrictions while in my car. I only ask, because if you have 1 beer and then wait, it's still possible to blow 0.01 on the test, and if it has to be zero; well, you failed the test and get a DUI on your licence.
 
The restrictions apply only to the vehicle class you are operating. In other words, the M1 restrictions only apply when you operate a motorcycle. When you are driving a car, any licence restrictions you have with your G licence apply.
 
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You are restricted to M1 rules based on if you were riding a bike, so if you decided to ride on the 400 series highways while on an M1 then you are going to get screwed even though you have a full G and in this case if you break the rules on your M1 than you are screwing your licence as a whole which means if you have your licence suspended while riding you are getting your G licence suspended as well. Your licence is a complete unit and not two separate pieces so you have to be careful of the rules.

This is from the MTO website:


M1 licence

By law, if you have an M1 licence, you must:
• maintain a zero blood alcohol level (no alcohol in your blood)
• ride only during daylight hours (½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset)
• wear an approved helmet
• not drive on roads with speed limits over 80 km/hour — except highways 11, 17, 61, 69, 71, 101, 102, 144 and 655
• always drive alone - you may not carry passengers

You need to wait at least 60 days before you can take your first road test. Your M1 licence is valid for 90 days. If the licence expires, you will need to start over.
 
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That makes more sense, I had figured that was what it was like. To suddenly have all the M1 restrictions while driving a car would be a bit silly. Thanks for clearing that up.
 
This came up during my course at Centennial and they said that the zero alcohol restriction of the M1 and M2 apply when driving a car as well (even though I have a full G).
 
They should really update this to say that the license restrictions apply only to the relevant vehicle class. Having M1 rules apply to driving a car is silly; you would look absolutely ridiculous wearing a helmet (of any kind) driving on the streets.

Also, this makes no sense at all if you hold both a G1 and an M1 at the same time; if you have a G1 you MUST have a passenger (with 4+ years license), but if you have an M1 you can't carry any.

<insert disparaging comment about bureaucratic inefficiencies>
 
That's the ministry for you... I can always ask again at my course when I go. Either that or I could go and ask at a police station perhaps.
 
This is what the website used to say:

Escalating Sanctions for all Novice Drivers (G1, G2, M1, M2)

Effective August 1, 2010, novice or hybrid drivers (drivers that hold a novice licence and full licence, e.g., G/M2) will be subject to Novice Driver Escalating Sanctions. These sanctions will apply if, within a five year period, you:

* are convicted of violating any of the graduated licensing conditions;
* are convicted of HTA offences that result in 4 or more demerit points; or,
* receive a court-ordered suspension for an HTA offence that would have resulted in 4 or more demerit points


Hybrid Drivers

Drivers that hold a novice licence and full licence, e.g., G/M2.

The penalties for Escalating Sanctions are as follows:

* 30-day licence suspension for the first occurrence; both full and novice driver’s licence will be suspended.
* 90-day licence suspension for the second occurrence; both full and novice driver’s licence will be suspended.
* Novice Licence cancellation for the third occurrence. Upon a third occurrence, your novice driver’s licence will be cancelled. You must re-apply to the graduated licensing program by passing a vision and knowledge test and paying all licensing fees. After you pass these tests, you will enter Level One and get a Class G1 licence. You must serve all the Level One and Level Two waiting periods and start as a new driver. You will not receive any driving experience credit from your previous novice class. Your full driver’s licence class will not be cancelled and a new licence card will be issued with your full class.

Note: If you receive a conviction for an escalating sanction offence but now hold a full class G driver’s licence, you will be required to serve the following:

* 30-day licence suspension for the first occurrence;
* 90-day licence suspension for the second occurrence; and
* 90-day licence suspension for the third occurrence.

Forfeited Fees:

If you prepaid any examination fees and are convicted for a third occurrence under Escalating Sanctions, all your pre-paid fees will be lost. You will be required to pay all fees once you re-enter the GLS.
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But they have changed the website so I cannot find it on the site anymore.
 
That quote makes it sound like the additional restrictions do apply. Especially this:

* are convicted of violating any of the graduated licensing conditions;

Since the restrictions don't specifically state that the BAC has to be zero only while on a bike, I think it might always apply. As for some of the other restrictions, i think they might state it, but I'll read the back of my temp licence closer when I get home.
 
Sorry to double-post, but I did actually go ask at a police station (43 division). The guy at the front desk (who is NOT on the traffic patrol), said that it wouldn't make sense to him for the restrictions from the M1 to apply while you are driving a car. I tend to believe what he thinks. He also said that if i wanted to be absolutely sure, that I should either call the Ministry of Transportation, or call Toronto police and ask for Traffic Services, and ask them.
 
I was just talking about this with some buddies recently. Would be nice to have solid confirmation. My guess is that even if you do get hit with a M1 infraction while holding a full G and driving a car, it's probably very winnable in court. Whether or not you get slapped with a ticket is up to the cop.
 
AF4iK said:
I was just talking about this with some buddies recently. Would be nice to have solid confirmation. My guess is that even if you do get hit with a M1 infraction while holding a full G and driving a car, it's probably very winnable in court. Whether or not you get slapped with a ticket is up to the cop.
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Based on the instructor during my course, he said that most police don't even know about this! He had some cops in one of his courses and they were shocked to hear about this too!
 
I am betting that most officers wouldn't realize this if you were stopped at a ride check or something, unless you were on a bike at the time; even if you can in fact be charged for it. Though I do plan on calling their main non-emergency line to find out (hopefully) for sure on this.

If you want to call yourself, the number would be 416 808 2222, and ask for Traffic Services. Someone there should be able to answer this. The only other option would be to call the Ministry of Transportation and hope to find someone to answer your question.
 
OP - don't even worry about it. That's one of the most irrational things I've read. Restrictions on a freshly acquired vehicle class do not apply to any of the other categories. If you're driving a car, it doesn't matter which M license you have, if any. Vice versa, when you ride a bike, your G class is not relevant.
 
DemonPig said:
OP - don't even worry about it. That's one of the most irrational things I've read. Restrictions on a freshly acquired vehicle class do not apply to any of the other categories. If you're driving a car, it doesn't matter which M license you have, if any. Vice versa, when you ride a bike, your G class is not relevant.
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Do you know this for a fact? We all agree it's irrational but that doesn't necessarily mean it's not so. Simply curious as I agree it's nothing to worry about.
 
DemonPig said:
That's one of the most irrational things I've read.
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What about the HTA172, Impound and license suspension before you even get a day in court? Thats not irrational? but its the law.

In the end IF you did get ticketed for it I am sure you could get it tossed very easily
 
Until recently I was a "hybrid" driver M2 and G. Also being a former copper I know the way we treated on the road, was If you were say an M2 and driving your car after dark you were perfectly legal to do so as you had EARNED that privilege by obtaining the G licence. I obeyed all M restrictions when riding and then just drove as per a fully licenced G driver when driving as a cager.
 
WeatherB said:
This came up during my course at Centennial and they said that the zero alcohol restriction of the M1 and M2 apply when driving a car as well (even though I have a full G).
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Didn't read the whole thread, but this ^^^ is true. While I still had a GM2, I was stopped for routine check and asked the cop, he said even though I have the full G, the alcohol restriction (having ZERO alcohol, not even a beer) applies to me even if I'm driving a car. It was pretty much the only reason I went to get the full M, so I can go out to dinner and have the casual beer (just one).
 
that novice escalating ******** says if you get a 4 demerit point ticket as a hybrid licensee its an automatic 30 day suspension from MTO. Now does anyone know what happens if you got the ticket as a hybrid driver but as of the day of conviction you were fully licensed? In this case do they suspend based on the day of the offence or conviction?
 
LoneRonin said:
that novice escalating ******** says if you get a 4 demerit point ticket as a hybrid licensee its an automatic 30 day suspension from MTO. Now does anyone know what happens if you got the ticket as a hybrid driver but as of the day of conviction you were fully licensed? In this case do they suspend based on the day of the offence or conviction?
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suspensions, (except for Impaired and HTA 172), are imposed as part of the sentencing so they come into effect as of the date of conviction not the offence date. (otherwise if you get a 30 day suspension as of the offence date 30 days has LONG since passed when your finally convicted and sentenced. therefore you would have already "served" your suspension.
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