And Welcome to Ontarioaryario
Note 50 km is about 32 mph
Street Racers and Aggressive Drivers – Effective September 30, 2007
The legislation includes tough measures for those who choose to race on Ontario’s roads, including higher fines and longer suspensions:
The maximum fine increases from $1,000 to $10,000 upon conviction for street racing, making it the highest penalty in Canada. The minimum fine increases from $200 to $2,000.
Police can issue an immediate seven-day driver’s licence suspension and seven-day vehicle impoundment for street racing, participating in a driving contest or stunt driving.
Courts can impose a driver licence suspension of up to 10 years for a second conviction, if the second conviction occurs within 10 years of the first. For a first conviction, the maximum licence suspension period remains at 2 years.
The definition of a “driving stunt” includes driving a motor vehicle at 50 km/h or more above the posted speed limit. The Act also bans driving a motor vehicle on a highway with a connected nitrous oxide system. Some street racers use nitrous oxide to enhance the acceleration capabilities of their vehicles.
AND
Effective January 1, 2010, penalties for the following offences will increase:
failure to stop at a red light - the maximum fine will increase from $500 to $1,000
failure to wear a seat belt and failure to ensure passengers under 16 are properly secured - the maximum fine will increase from $500 to $1,000
careless driving and failure to remain at the scene of a collision - the maximum fine will increase from $1,000 to $2,000. Other existing maximum penalties for these offences will remain, including a two-year licence suspension and six-month jail term.
Penalties for drivers who do not pull over and stop for emergency vehicles or who follow fire vehicles too closely will undergo the greatest change:
first offence: a maximum fine of $2,000, three demerit points plus a possible two-year licence suspension -- up from the current maximum penalty of a $500 fine.
subsequent offences (within five years): a maximum fine of $4,000 fine, three demerit points, a two-year driver's licence suspension and a six-month prison sentence - up from the current maximum penalty of a $500 fine.
All of the above is nothing more than another tax grab. The normal license suspension for a first offense is one year. The stunt driving law has been ruled unconstitutional by two seperate courts but the province continues to enforce it, while they appeal the ruling. Not unusual for the OPP in our county to lay several stunt driving charges on a 30 mile section of Highway 401 in a single weekend. Many of these charges are against US driver's.