Cycling in Waterloo Region

[MidTowner]

I did leave myself some wiggle room by saying "almost impossible". I think it is fair to say that it is a difficult law to enforce. The fact that (1) the Ottawa police using this equipment made the news and actually caused a bit of an online stir (maybe only noticed by those who follow cycling news...) and more importantly (2) there were 19 total charges laid in the province in almost a year, would seem to support that.

I wonder how many cyclists received the increased fine ($110 up from $20) for improper lighting and reflectors that was passed at the same time. Now that's an easy law to enforce.

When you say it’s difficult, what makes you say that? Speed limits are practically impossible to enforce objectively without special equipment, so police forces equip themselves with that equipment. But they can and do enforce speed limits even without the use of that equipment when it’s abundantly clear that the rule is being broken. Police could do that with this rule, too: it can be pretty obvious when a motorist is passing someone on a bicycle too closely, and at least some of those times there must be a police officer around. The fact that they only laid 19 charges in nearly a year means that practically none of them were trying.