THUNDER BAY – During recent weeks police across Canada have had to deal with a number of incidents of stunt driving or drivers travelling at massively excessive speeds on roads and highways.
On April 27, 2020, at approximately 12:27 am, officers from the Manitoulin Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a traffic complaint on Highway 17 in Nairn-Hyman Township.
Officers located the vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed. The driver did not initially stop for police when directed to do so. As a result of the investigation, William ESCOFFERY, 27-years-of age, from Brampton, was arrested and charged with:
- Dangerous Operation, contrary to section 320.13(1) of the Criminal Code (CC);
- Flight From Peace Officer, contrary to section 320.17 of the CC; and
- Race a Motor Vehicle – Excessive Speed, contrary to section 172(1) of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA)
The accused was released on an Undertaking and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Espanola on July 6, 2020.
In Cochrane, Alberta, on April 27, 2020, during the afternoon, a member of the Cochrane RCMP Integrated Traffic Services Unit was conducting traffic enforcement on Highway 1. Shortly after 1:30 pm, two cars were observed travelling eastbound at a high rate of speed between Cochrane and Canmore.
Laser speed readings of 199 km/hr in the posted 110 km/hr zone were recorded by police on the two vehicles. The RCMP officer was able to get both vehicles safely stopped.
Both drivers, a 24-year-old male from Calgary and a 21-year-old male from High River, Alta., were charged with speeding contrary to Section 115(2)(p) of the Traffic Safety Act and were issued a summons to attend Cochrane Provincial Court on August 21, 2020.
Superintendent Gary Graham, who is in charge of Alberta RCMP Traffic Services, states, “Even with COVID-19, Alberta Integrated Traffic officers continue to be on the look-out for unsafe driving behaviours. We are committed to keeping Albertans safe during this pandemic and that includes on our highways”.
On April 25, 2020 members from the Sault Ste. Marie Highway Safety Division (HSD) and Traffic Incident Management Enforcement (TIME) team were conducting radar patrol on Highway 17, Garden River First Nation, Ontario.
At approximately 4:10 pm officers conducted a traffic stop on a westbound vehicle for traveling in excess of 160 kilometers per hour in a 90 kilometer per hour zone.
As a result of further investigation, a 32 year-old person from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario was charged with the following:
- Two counts – failure to comply with release order – other than to attend court, contrary to section 145(5((a) of the Criminal Code (CC),
- Race a motor vehicle – excessive speed, contrary to section 172(1) of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA),
- Novice driver – B.A.C. above zero, contrary to section 44.1(3) of the HTA.
The driver’s licence was suspended for 7 days and the vehicle was also impounded for 7 days.
The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on August 5th, 2020 located at 426 Queen Street, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
On April 24, 2020, at 3:35 pm, Grey Bruce Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) patrolling Highway 6 into Wiarton and observed a northbound (grey) car travelling at a high rate of speed. The officer also observed the car proceed through a yellow light at an intersection. The vehicle was stopped on Berford Street for speeding over 50 kilometres an hour (km/h) or more over the posted speed limit of 50 km/h.
Grey Bruce OPP has charged the 59-year-old driver from Kitchener with stunt driving – speeding by 50 km/h or more over the posted speed limit, 172(1) Highway Traffic Act and Fail to stop for an amber light, section 144(15) HTA. The driver’s vehicle was impounded for 7 days and their driver’s licence was suspended for 7 days.
These are just a few incidents over recent days where drivers seem to be feeling perhaps quieter highways and roadways are an excuse to put themselves, the public and police officers at risk.
