3 demerit points
The criteria vary by lane and by signage, and eligibility categories have changed over time. The practical question is usually whether the requirement was clearly posted where you entered, and whether your vehicle or occupancy was correctly identified from a moving observation.
Penalties
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3 demerit points on conviction
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$110 set fine
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3 years on your driving record from conviction
The fine is modest. The three points are not, and they carry the same weight on your abstract as any other three-point conviction.
Who is actually allowed in the lane?
This is where most HOV cases live, because the criteria are neither obvious nor static.
Generally eligible on Ontario's provincial HOV lanes:
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Vehicles carrying the posted minimum number of occupants — usually two or more, but the requirement is set per lane and posted
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Licensed taxis and limousines
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Buses, including school buses and public transit
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Emergency vehicles
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Motorcycles
