Community Safety Zones By-Law - By-Law No. 7387

A BY-LAW to designate Community Safety Zones on part of County Roads in the County of Middlesex. 

WHEREAS:

1. Middlesex County Council approved a recommendation on September 9, 2025 directing staff to bring forward a by-law for Council consideration to designate Community Safety Zones on County roads; 
2. Section 27(1) of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, as amended, authorizes a municipality to pass by-laws in respect of a highway under its jurisdiction; 
3. The County has jurisdiction over the highways subject to this By-law; 
4. Section 214.1(1) of the Highway Traffic Act (RSO 1990 c H.8) as amended (the “Highway Traffic Act"), authorizes the council of a municipality to designate, by by-law, a part of a highway as a Community Safety Zone; 
5. Middlesex County Council has determined that public safety is of special concern on specified County highways and therefore designates those highways as Community Safety Zones; 
6. Section 11 of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, provides that a municipality may pass by-laws respecting any service or thing that the municipality considers necessary or desirable for the public.

NOW THEREFORE the Council of The Corporation of the County of Middlesex enacts as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS

   1.1 “County Engineer" means the County Engineer or designate;

   1.2 "Highway" means a common and public highway, street, avenue, parkway, driveway, square, place, bridge, viaduct, or trestle, any part of them that is intended for or used by the general public for the passage of vehicles and includes the area between the lateral property lines; and

   1.3 "Sign" means a sign as described as a “Community Safety Zone" sign pursuant to the Highway Traffic Act, and Ontario Regulation 615 made under the Highway Traffic Act, as amended.

2. COMMUNITY SAFETY ZONES

   2.1 The part of the highways set out in Schedule "A" in the County of Middlesex are hereby designated as Community Safety Zones within the meaning of section 214.1(1) of the Highway Traffic Act.

3. DURATION

   3.1 The Community Safety Zones set out in Schedule ''A" shall be in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week and every month of the year.

4. RATES OF SPEED

   4.1 No person shall operate a motor vehicle on the portions of the highways set out in Schedule “A” at a rate of speed greater than the rate of speed set out in Schedule "A".

5. SCHEDULE

   5.1 Schedule “A” attached hereto forms part of this By-Law.

6. SIGNAGE

   6.1 The County Engineer is authorized to erect or cause to be erected the necessary signage in accordance with the Highway Traffic Act and Ontario Regulation 615 made under the Highway Traffic Act.

7. ENFORCEMENT 

   7.1 This By-Law may be enforced by a police officer as defined in the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, S.O. 2019, c. 1.

8. EFFECTIVE DATE

   8.1 This By-Law shall come into effect upon Community Safety Zone signs being erected in compliance with the Highway Traffic Act and its regulations.

PASSED IN COUNCIL this 13th day of January, 2026.