THUNDER BAY — Stunt driving charges have been on the rise lately across Northwestern Ontario, with a handful of charges laid in the last couple of weeks.
Ontario Provincial Police have issued several news releases, detailing drivers going well above the posted speed limit on highways throughout the region after being caught by officers conducting roadside radar patrol.
Last year from Jan. 1 to July 23, OPP laid 42 stunt driving charges in the North West Region. In the same time period for 2023, the charges have doubled to 84.
"[It's] extremely concerning. Your reaction time is less, and your stopping time is significantly less," OPP Const. Matt Foster said in an interview on Wednesday.
Foster said public road safety is one of the major concerns for the provincial police.
"[The public will] continue to see officers out on the highway conducting enforcement education, as well as officers participating with media relations by sending pictures of their radar guns with excessive speeds to educate the public," he said.
Foster indicated that stunt driving doesn't have just to be speeding, forms of aggressive driving are also included in the Ontario Highway Traffic Act,
- Driving 50 kilometres per hour or more over the posted speed limit in an 80-zone
- Driving 40 kilometres per hour or more over the posted speed limit in a zone that is 80 or less
- Driving at a speed of 150 km/h or more
- Squealing tires, doing burnouts, or driving with the intent to lose traction
- Cutting off another driver intentionally, even tailgating
- Intentionally not allowing another driver to pass
The penalties for stunt driving were recently updated in 2022 to have harsher repercussions. Police automatically hand out roadside vehicle impoundment of seven to 14 days, plus license suspensions of 30 to 90 days. Drivers could also face a fine of a minimum of $2,000 up to $10,000, plus the risk of spending up to six months in prison.
Once convicted, the penalties can vary depending on if it is the accused is a repeat offender;
- A first offence could garner license suspension of a minimum of one year but up to three years.
- A second offence could result in a lost license for a minimum of three years or up to 10yrs.
- If a third offence occurs, the defendant could receive a lifetime suspension that might be reduced at a later date.
If convicted of stunt driving, drivers must complete a driver improvement course, or their license will be revoked. The course must be completed within 60 days of the conviction.
Foster said that police will keep working hard to educate the public on the safety of driving within posted speed limits as well as the repercussions and penalties for stunt driving infractions.
