Canadian Hitchhiking Laws

Rover

Drifting away
Joined
Jun 6, 2014
Messages
27
Reaction score
36
Location
Western Canada
Hey, here is a link to the hitchhiking section of "fight your tickets".ca. it looks like the page hasn't been updated since Jan 2010, but the site is still active, and the hitchhiking page has links to the applicable government websites, and they're about as current as you would need.

http://fightyourtickets.ca/hitchhiking/
 

kerouac

Active member
Joined
Feb 22, 2010
Messages
36
Reaction score
40
Location
montreal
damn, i never realized it's so illegal in canada! i've hitched a bunch in almost every province an never caught a fine. got stopped by the cops walking along the trans-canada in new brunswick once and i straight up told the cop i was headed to an on-ramp to hitch and he let me carry on, but not before running my name for warrants.
i'm planning a trip to newfoundland but seeing that the minimum penalty is a day in jail is freaking me out!
i'd be curious to hear if any fellow canadians have ever been fined or worse for hitchhiking here...
 

Vickah

New member
Joined
Jan 18, 2016
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Location
Canada
damn, i never realized it's so illegal in canada! i've hitched a bunch in almost every province an never caught a fine. got stopped by the cops walking along the trans-canada in new brunswick once and i straight up told the cop i was headed to an on-ramp to hitch and he let me carry on, but not before running my name for warrants.
i'm planning a trip to newfoundland but seeing that the minimum penalty is a day in jail is freaking me out!
i'd be curious to hear if any fellow canadians have ever been fined or worse for hitchhiking here...

I live in Newfoundland, the cops don't do a thing to travellers.
 

c4s3

Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2016
Messages
7
Reaction score
3
I've been hassled outside of Surrey for walking down the highway, he just drove me to the skytrain station. Most of the times I've been hassled it was the fucking OPP, Ontario has anti-hitchhiking laws, so if the cop is a dick he can ticket you, etc. On the other hand I was hitchin outside of Wawa this summer and a cop pulled over to see if I was hungry, ended up giving me some trailmix and gave me some fresh water.

All depends I guess, if I'm having a hard time I tend to talk a lot of shit to the cops, being all sarcastic and stuff so that adds to the tickets I'm sure. Also, the coquihalla in BC has no hitchiking signs every ten fucking minutes, but you can still get picked up easily. I think it starts after kamloops or around there.
 
Joined
Feb 25, 2016
Messages
5
Reaction score
2
Haha Wawa is a hitchin' trap, it takes a while to get rides between the soo and Thunder Bay. I've been hitchin close to 15 years in Canada and seems have been smooth. the only things I got stopped for was not hitchin ona turn pike and another time for not having ID and 150$ (Ontario law). If your hitchin across Canada I wouldn't be worried, it's coming back strong, and pigs are cool if you don't fuck with them
 
  • Like
Reactions: mightyb

WanderLost Radical

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 7, 2014
Messages
443
Reaction score
668
Location
Montreal
I don't now much about the rest of canada, but in Quebec, hitchhiking is fine unless you're on the highway. Then the cops WILL fuck with you. They might just tell you to fuck of if they're feeling nice, or fine you.
 

Matt Derrick

Retired Wanderer
Staff member
Joined
Aug 4, 2006
Messages
10,563
Reaction score
13,912
Location
Portland, OR
Website
youtube.com
added the 'resources' prefix to this thread since other users might find this info useful.
 

wizehop

Chasing the Darkness
Joined
Jan 4, 2009
Messages
1,609
Reaction score
2,781
Location
Montreal, Canada
Never been fined for hitching, but have had run ins with the cops a lot over the years. Mostly just for hitching in the city, or on major highways. But sometimes its your only choice, so you leave and come back later and hope you get a ride before they come back around.

That being said I'm sure a lot of the laws are there just encase they feel the need to go after you, but I've never heard of any of my friends ever getting more than a "you cant hitch on the highway"
 

fallingseastar

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Messages
62
Reaction score
26
Location
Vancouver
As long as you don't hitch on the highway I feel like it is fine. Usually that's when it's illegal. I have been harassed by cops, but it was just a smack on the wrist kind of thing. I have seen many hitch under hitchhiking is illegal signs on Vancouver Island.
 

c4s3

Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2016
Messages
7
Reaction score
3
I'm on vancouver island right now in nanaimo, lots of them around. they will go all the way down the main highways for a bit cause of that serial killer in the 90's, they stop round kamloops.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lilly

About us

  • Squat the Planet is the world's largest social network for misfit travelers. Join our community of do-it-yourself nomads and learn how to explore the world by any means necessary.

    More Info

Latest Library Uploads