Four people were charged with stunt driving over four days during a Halloween weekend traffic enforcement campaign by Ontario Provincial Police’s North Bay detachment. 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. Commercial vehicle stop in Rutherglen At about 8 a.m. on Oct. 30, an officer was conducting traffic enforcement on Highway 17 in Rutherglen. “A commercial motor vehicle was observed travelling at 115 km/h in a posted 70 km/h zone,” OPP said in a news release Thursday. As a result of the investigation, a 60-year-old resident of Saint-Bruno, Que., was charged with stunt driving. High-speed stop in Bonfield Later that day, at about 5:10 p.m., an officer observed a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed on Highway 17 in Bonfield Township. “The officer determined the vehicle was travelling at 156 km/h in a posted 90 km/h zone,” said police. As a result, an 18-year-old driver from Petawawa was charged with stunt driving. Halloween stop The next day, at about 5 p.m. on Oct. 31, an officer observed a vehicle travelling through Rutherglen on Highway 17 at an excessive speed. “The vehicle was recorded travelling at 137 km/h in a posted 70 km/h zone and a traffic stop was conducted,” said OPP. As a result, a 21-year-old driver from Sudbury was charged with stunt driving. Early morning radar enforcement At about 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 2, an officer conducting stationary radar enforcement on Highway 17 West within the City of North Bay observed a vehicle travelling at a high speed. “Radar confirmed the vehicle reached 150 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone, and a traffic stop was conducted,” said police. As a result, a 28-year-old Sudbury resident was charged with stunt driving. Additional penalties All four drivers had their licences suspended for 30 days and all four vehicles were impounded for 14 days – including the tractor portion of the commercial motor vehicle stopped Friday morning. Each of the drivers was issued provincial offences notices and future traffic court dates as a result of the incident. 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. Safety reminder Provincial police used the incidents to remind the public of the risks of speeding. “OPP reminds motorists that excessive speed continues to be a contributing factor in many fatal and serious injury collisions across Ontario,” wrote OPP Const. Kyler Brouwer in the release.
