Man I feel sorry for you guys back East!!!!
New speeding law nabs 863 drivers
Oct 23, 2007 09:22 PM
Josh Wingrove
Staff Reporter
Police have suspended 863 drivers since Ontario’s new speeding law came into effect last month.
Drivers caught street racing, stunt driving, or speeding more than 50 km/h over the posted limit face an on-the-spot, one-week suspension. Suspended drivers also lose their car for a week, and pay for the towing (about $250) and storage (up to $75 a day). The new regulations are part of the Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act, and came into effect Sept. 30th.
The number of suspensions each day has dropped slightly - from 40 to 38, on average - indicating a shift in thinking among Ontario drivers, said OPP Sgt. Cam Woolley.
"It’s been probably one of the most successful pieces of legislation in traffic," Woolley said. "I think we’re seeing a real shift in the public attitude to this, and the people who are late to this are in for a big surprise."
The act came after a series of collisions and deaths from street racing in the GTA, and gives police the power to get speeding drivers off the roads. Drivers convicted under the law also face a fine between $2,000 and $10,000. OPP handed out 630 of the suspensions, while Toronto police handed out 67 and York Regional Police another 35.
The suspended drivers range in age from 17 to 69, and 84 per cent are male, Woolley said. The most common age of suspended drivers was 22. While street bikes and sports cars have been impounded regularly, police have seized their share of family vehicles - often belonging to the driver’s parents.
"We’ve seen some pretty upset parents, but we think we’re probably saving people’s lives," Woolley said.
The new law also allows courts to hand out 10-year suspensions for a second conviction. "Some of these people have been drinking, are suspended, have terrible records. It looks to me like it’s getting the right people," Woolley said.
New speeding law nabs 863 drivers
Oct 23, 2007 09:22 PM
Josh Wingrove
Staff Reporter
Police have suspended 863 drivers since Ontario’s new speeding law came into effect last month.
Drivers caught street racing, stunt driving, or speeding more than 50 km/h over the posted limit face an on-the-spot, one-week suspension. Suspended drivers also lose their car for a week, and pay for the towing (about $250) and storage (up to $75 a day). The new regulations are part of the Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act, and came into effect Sept. 30th.
The number of suspensions each day has dropped slightly - from 40 to 38, on average - indicating a shift in thinking among Ontario drivers, said OPP Sgt. Cam Woolley.
"It’s been probably one of the most successful pieces of legislation in traffic," Woolley said. "I think we’re seeing a real shift in the public attitude to this, and the people who are late to this are in for a big surprise."
The act came after a series of collisions and deaths from street racing in the GTA, and gives police the power to get speeding drivers off the roads. Drivers convicted under the law also face a fine between $2,000 and $10,000. OPP handed out 630 of the suspensions, while Toronto police handed out 67 and York Regional Police another 35.
The suspended drivers range in age from 17 to 69, and 84 per cent are male, Woolley said. The most common age of suspended drivers was 22. While street bikes and sports cars have been impounded regularly, police have seized their share of family vehicles - often belonging to the driver’s parents.
"We’ve seen some pretty upset parents, but we think we’re probably saving people’s lives," Woolley said.
The new law also allows courts to hand out 10-year suspensions for a second conviction. "Some of these people have been drinking, are suspended, have terrible records. It looks to me like it’s getting the right people," Woolley said.
