Ontario Provincial Police say four drivers in the North Bay area are facing stunt driving charges following separate traffic enforcement incidents over a two-day period during the Civic Holiday long weekend. “The incidents involved excessive speeds of up to 181 km/h and dangerous driving behaviour on Highways 11 and 17 within the detachment area,” OPP said in a news release. First stop: SUV on Highway 11 On July 31 at about 10 a.m., an officer stopped a sport utility vehicle after OPP said they observed it travelling at 155 km/h in a posted 90 km/h zone on Highway 11. A 55-year-old man from Temiskaming Shores was charged with stunt driving as a result of the investigation. Pickup stopped in Powassan Later that day, at approximately 2:40 p.m., OPP said officers conducting traffic enforcement on Highway 11 in Powassan stopped a pickup truck after observing it travelling at 156 km/h in a posted 100 km/h zone. A 24-year-old man from London, Ont., was charged with stunt driving. Burnout leads to multiple charges On Aug. 1 at about 10:30 a.m., provincial police said officers were conducting a RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) program on Chant Plein Lake Road in Papineau-Cameron Township when an officer observed a pickup truck performing a burnout on Highway 17. Police said the motorist intentionally caused the tires to lose traction. The vehicle was stopped, and a 20-year-old man from River Valley was charged with stunt driving, driving a motor vehicle with plate improperly displayed, driving a motor vehicle without a valid permit, operating a motor vehicle without mudguards and causing or permitting tampering with a motor vehicle’s emissions. SUV clocked at 181 km/h Later that day, at approximately 1:20 p.m., an officer stopped an SUV after observing it travelling at 181 km/h in a posted 100 km/h zone on Highway 11 in Powassan. A 21-year-old man from Baldwin was charged with stunt driving. Stunt driving and its consequences Under Ontario law, stunt driving includes driving 40 km/h or more over the limit on roads with a posted limit under 80 km/h, 50 km/h or more over on roads with limits of 80 km/h or more and travelling more than 150 km/h on any roadway. The offence also covers dangerous behaviours such as racing and intentionally cutting off other vehicles. Court-imposed penalties upon conviction can include a fine of up to $10,000, a licence suspension of up to three years and up to six months in jail. First-time offenders face a minimum fine of $2,000, along with six demerit points, higher insurance costs and a mandatory driver improvement course. In all four incidents outline by the OPP, the motorists received an immediate 30-day driver’s licence suspension and their vehicles were impounded for 14 days. “The drivers were also issued summonses and are required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice - Provincial Offences Court at a future date,” OPP said. OPP warning on speeding “Speeding continues to be a leading contributing factor in fatal and serious-injury collisions on Ontario roads,” the OPP said. Provincial police also reminded motorists that excessive speed significantly reduces reaction time, increases stopping distance and places all road users at risk. “Drive safe,” added OPP Const. Kyler Brouwer in a related social media post.
