A driver in Ontario was fined after learning the hard way that a cat does not qualify as a passenger for high-occupancy vehicle lanes, despite the animal riding visibly on her shoulder while she drove.
The incident happened Thursday on Highway 417 near Terry Fox Drive in Kanata, where Ontario Provincial Police pulled over a vehicle traveling in the HOV lane with only one human occupant. The driver, who is under 30 years old, believed she was allowed to use the lane because her cat was in the car with her.
According to the Ottawa Citizen, the tabby cat was perched on the driver’s shoulder and partially hanging over the back seat when the vehicle was spotted shortly before noon. The HOV lane was otherwise wide open at the time, meaning there was no traffic-related need to use it.
Cats don’t count as second passenegers
OPP Constable Michael Fathi, who is also a media relations officer with the Ottawa detachment, said the misunderstanding was unusual but clear-cut under provincial rules.
“While we all love our pets,” Fathi stated, “they unfortunately do not count towards having a second person in the car with you.”
Fathi added that he personally owns two cats and a dog and still does not qualify to use HOV lanes unless another person is in the vehicle. He also noted that having a cat sitting on a driver’s shoulder is “not ideal,” particularly from a safety standpoint.
Ontario’s HOV lanes are restricted to vehicles carrying two or more people and are designed to encourage carpooling while easing congestion on busy highways. Animals are not recognized as passengers under the rules, regardless of size, temperament, or seating position.
The driver received a $110 fine along with three demerit points for the violation. Police said there was no indication of impairment or aggressive driving, and the stop was limited to the HOV infraction.
Fathi also pointed out that traffic was light at the time of the stop, making the use of the HOV lane unnecessary even if the driver had qualified.
