Recently, the Town of Holyrood has received reports of fundraising activities taking place on Conception Bay Highway where motorists are stopped to solicit donations (commonly referred to as toll-gating or toll-bridging).
Conception Bay Highway is a public roadway, and in discussions with the RCMP, the Town has been advised that stopping or impeding traffic for fundraising purposes is not permitted under the Highway Traffic Act:
• Section 158 states that “Persons shall not congregate in a place on or near a highway in a way that they obstruct traffic or interfere with the movement of traffic.”
• Section 162 provides authority for directing or stopping traffic only to traffic officers acting within their lawful duties.
• Section 161 permits traffic control by flagpersons only in specific situations involving authorized highway work.
Collecting donations by stopping vehicles on a roadway interferes with the normal flow of traffic and creates unnecessary safety risks for motorists, volunteers, and pedestrians. Community organizations are encouraged to consider alternative fundraising initiatives that can be conducted safely and without impacting the travelling public.
While enforcement remains at the discretion of the RCMP, the Town does not support or endorse fundraising activities that involve stopping traffic on roadways within the municipality.
The Town appreciates the cooperation of all organizations in helping keep our roadways safe for everyone.