North Bay OPP say they are noticing an increase in stunt driving occurrences in the detachment area.
On August 6th, an officer nabbed a driver on Trout Lake Road travelling over 131 kilometers per hour in a posted 60 km/h zone. That driver was served a 30-day licence suspension and the vehicle was impounded for 14-days.
And on August 23rd, just after 8:00 a.m on Highway 63 in Jocko Township, officers clocked a driver doing over 153 kilometers per hour (km/h) in a posted 80 km/h zone. The 50-year-old driver from Gatineau, Quebec was served a 30-day licence suspension and the vehicle was impounded for 14-days.
Stunt driving charges have been on the rise right across Ontario, with OPP and other law enforcement regularly posting photographs and dashcam videos of drivers going well above posted speed limits.
This video was posted by York Regional Police this morning after stopping a driver clocked at 146 km/h in a 60 km/h zone in Vaughan.
A 22-year-old man from Brampton has been charged with dangerous driving. His driver’s licence was seized on the spot and suspended for 30 days, and his BMW was impounded for 14 days.
In a news release about the incident, York Regional Police say:
It’s important to know that sometimes speed alone can be sufficient for a criminal charge of Dangerous Driving. If a case of extreme speeding is far from what an ordinary, sensible person would do in similar circumstances and the speed presents a predictable danger to the public, then it may meet the threshold for a criminal charge.
When considering charges, police may also consider other factors at the time and place of the offence, including:
- the nature, condition and use of the place where the motor vehicle is being operated
- the amount of traffic or pedestrians present in the area, or reasonably expected to be in the area
- weather conditions
- whether a passenger is in the vehicle, especially a person under the age of 16
- other driving behaviour, such as failing to obey road signs or traffic signals, tailgating, swerving, unsafe lane changes, driving over road lines or curbs, etc.
Speeding continues to be a problem on our roads. It is a major factor in many motor vehicle collisions and is often an aggravating factor in tragic incidents that result in death and serious bodily harm.
Some speeds are so egregious that a traffic ticket or summons is insufficient to deal with the gravity of the situation. When warranted, York Regional Police officers are prepared to lay criminal charges.
Dangerous driving will not be tolerated in our communities.
705BLACKFLY.COM will be speaking with North Bay OPP next week regarding the concerns about stunt driving. Stay with us for that!
