Police charge two people with stunt driving on the same northern Ont. highway on same day

Increase in stunt driving offences OPP say it's been a busy 2023 for stunt driving charges in northeastern Ontario. Amanda Hicks reports.

Two northern Ontario drivers were stopped by provincial police for stunt on Highway 69 driving on Friday.

Both drivers were travelling 50 km/h or more over the posted limit and were charged with stunt driving according to Ontario Provincial Police (OPP.)

“(On) June 28, 2024, Nipissing West OPP stopped a vehicle traveling 150 km/h in a posted 100 km/h zone on Highway 69, south of Sudbury.” said police in a social media post.

“A 25-year-old driver from Sudbury was charged with stunt driving."

The driver also faces an additional charge for not having their insurance card.

Later that day

Later that day the Nipissing West OPP detachment stopped another vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed on Highway 69, south of Greater Sudbury and issued a stunt driving charge.

“The vehicle was traveling 166 km/h in a posted 100 km/h zone,” said police in a separate social media post.

“A 31-year-old driver from Victoria Harbour was charged.”

In addition to the stunt driving charges both drivers also received 30-day driver’s licence suspensions and the vehicles involved were impounded for 14 days.

None of the allegations has been proven in court.

Speeding and stunt driving on the rise

Last year, OPP officials in northern Ontario said following a pause during the pandemic stunt driving in the region is again on the rise.

The OPP statements were supported by a Canadian Automobile Association survey which found that 51 per cent of Ontario drivers label speeding as a big problem within the province.

Court-imposed penalties for stunt driving may include a fine of up to $10,000, a driver’s licence suspension of up to three years and/or up to six months in jail. In Ontario, drivers face a minimum first-time fine for stunt driving of $2,000 upon conviction.

“Slow down (and) drive safe,” said police.