Ontario Provincial Police have charged an Ottawa motorist with stunt driving after a traffic stop on Highway 17. OPP said an officer was conducting moving radar enforcement on Highway 17 in Rutherglen at about 10:50 p.m. on Oct. 20. “The officer observed a westbound vehicle travelling at 153 km/h in a posted 70 km/h zone,” said OPP in a news release Wednesday. Charges and penalties Police said the vehicle was stopped a short distance away and the 25-year-old driver was charged with stunt driving. In addition to the charge, OPP said the motorist also received an immediate 30-day driver’s licence suspension and the vehicle was impounded for 14 days. The driver will appear in court in North Bay to answer the charge at a later date. Court-imposed penalties upon conviction of stunt driving 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. Police remind motorists of speed risks “OPP continues to remind motorists that excessive speed significantly increases the risk of serious injury or death in the event of a collision.” Police also urged drivers to obey posted speed limits and adjust their driving to road, traffic and weather conditions.
