Changes to the Highway Traffic Act means motorists charged with stunt driving face harsher penalties, said provincial police.
Effective July 1, The Highway Traffic Act had made two changes in relation to racing/stunt driving contrary to section 172(1).
The first change sees a seven-day increase in the time a vehicle will be impounded, from seven days to 14 days in total.
The second change introduces a lower speed threshold for street racing offenders on municipal roads with speed limits less than 80 kilometre per hour. Drivers traveling at speeds in excess of 40 km/h on these highways can face racing/stunt driving charges.
The changes form part of the Moving Ontarians More Safely (MOMS) Act, which received royal assent on June 3.
Offenders charged with stunt driving and found guilty can face a fine not less than $2,000 and not more than $10,000. A conviction could also come with a jail term of no more than six months.
On a first conviction, a driver will have their licence suspended for at least a year, up to a maximum of three years.
On the second conviction, the suspension is not less than three years and not more than 10 years.
On the third conviction, the suspension is indefinite.
Racing, stunt driving, speeding, following too closely, unsafe lane changes and road rage are all forms of aggressive driving that places drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians at risk.
