Tip Tuesday with Oxford OPP - April 2025

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Tuesday, 29 April 2025 10:54

Oxford OPP Constable Randi Crawford with Dan Henry and Marcie Culbert

OPP Sergeant Jillian Johnson joined Dan and Marcie in the April edition of Tip Tuesday.

OXFORD COUNTY - Motorized scooters, citizens arrests and pets in hot vehicles.

Those were the topics discussed during the latest edition of Tip Tuesday with the Oxford OPP.

Sergeant Jillian Johnson was covering for Community Safety and Media Relations Constable Randi Crawford this morning, and you can find all of the information below:

1) What are the rules regarding motorized scooters, e-bikes, mopeds, etc? How fast can they go and where?

Johnson says there are three major classifications when it comes to this type of vehicle; e-bikes/e-scooters, mopeds, and motorized scooters.

"If you're looking at the e-bike or e-scooter, because its still considered a bicycle and not considered a motor vehicle, it does have to travel close to the right of the roadway similar to a bicycle. The mopeds and motorized scooters have to be in the lane marked for traffic unless they are travelling a lot lower than the normal speed of traffic. Then they should stay to the right like any slow moving vehicle should be."

An e-bike is a a powerized bike that can travel up to 32 kilometres per hour, a moped is a gas powered bike that can travel up to 50 kilometres per hour, and a motorized scooter is a limited speed motorcycle that can travel up to 70 kilometres per hour.

A motorcycle helmet is required for mopeds and motorized scooters, but you just need a bike helmet for an e-bike. Johnson says you must have your M1 or M2 licence to operate these vehicles and they are not allowed on any 400 series highway. In terms of local trails, it's depending on the municipality.

2) Can a person make a citizens arrest? Have you seen or heard this happen before since you have joined the police force?

Sergeant Jillian Johnson with the OPP says it is legal and they see it a lot with loss prevention officers and security guards in stores.

"They are citizens and if they witness somebody shoplifting or somebody they believe is shoplifting they can arrest without warrant. We then get called to the scene and we continue that arrest and do the investigation."

However, Johnson adds the security guards and loss prevention officers know what they are legally able to do. She says the average person making a citizens arrest is not recommended because it could put them in danger or result in legal troubles if the arrest is considered unlawful.

Not that we're we're starting to experience the warmer temperatures, Sergeant Johnson also reminded pet owners about the dangers of leaving your dog in a vehicle on a hot day.

"Even if you just crack the window a little bit and think they are okay, they could still get in medical distress in there. We always recommend that people do not bring their pets anywhere that you might have to leave them for any period of time."

If you're stuck in an unavoidable situation where you have to leave your pet unattended in a vehicle for a short amount of time, Johnson says you should take reasonable precaution to protect them. This could be leaving the vehicle running with the air conditioning and locking them inside, however is could make you the target of a vehicle theft.

The next Tip Tuesday is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27th and you can submit a question online here.