Greater Sudbury Police were out in force over the Civic Holiday weekend to crack down on speeders on city streets.
And what a crack down it was. The police service said it laid stunt driving charges against 16 drivers between July 30 and Aug. 1.
GSPS said one driver was clocked doing 180 km/h in an 80 km/h zone.
Drivers who exceed the speed limit by 50 km/h on roads with a speed limit of 80 km/h or higher could face a stunt driving charge, which includes a fine of between $2,000 and $10,000, six demerit points, a two-year driving suspension and up to six months in jail. The charge will also impact a driver’s insurance rate.
The law changed this year as the province expanded its focus. Now, drivers can also face a stunt driving charge for exceeding the speed limit by 40 km/h on roads with speed limits under 80 km/h as well, effectively making it possible for police to lay the charges on municipal roads as well as highways.
Consequences for being convicted of stunt driving includ a $2,000-$10,000 fine, six demerit points, a 2-year licence suspension and up to six months in jail.
What people might not know is stunt driving charges can be laid for reasons other than driving at least 50 km/h over the limit.
Stunt driving charges can be laid for any of the following infractions:
- Driving in a manner that indicates an intention to chase another motor vehicle
- Driving at a rate of speed that is a marked departure from the lawful rate of speed
- Driving in a manner that indicates the drivers of the motor vehicles are engaged in a competition
- Driving without due care and attention, without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway or in a manner that may endanger any person by,
- Outdistancing or attempting to outdistance one or more other motor vehicles while driving at a rate of speed that is a marked departure from the lawful rate of speed, or
- Repeatedly changing lanes in close proximity to other vehicles so as to advance through the ordinary flow of traffic while driving at a rate of speed that is a marked departure from the lawful rate of speed
- Driving with a person in the trunk of the motor vehicle
- Driving while the driver is not sitting in the driver's seat
- Driving that indicates an intention to prevent another vehicle from passing
- Driving that indicates an intention to spin it or cause it to circle, without maintaining control over it
- Driving that indicates an intention to cause some or all of its tires to lose traction with the surface of the highway while turning
- Driving that indicates an intention to drive, without justification, as close as possible to another vehicle, pedestrian or fixed object on or near the highway
- Driving that indicates an intention to lift some or all of its tires from the surface of the highway, including driving a motorcycle with only one wheel in contact with the ground
- Driving two or more motor vehicles side by side or in proximity to each other, where one of the motor vehicles occupies a lane of traffic or other portion of the highway intended for use by oncoming traffic for a period of time that is longer than is reasonably required to pass another motor vehicle
- Stopping or slowing down in a manner that indicates the driver's sole intention in stopping or slowing down is to interfere with the movement of another vehicle by cutting off its passage on the highway or to cause another vehicle to stop or slow down in circumstances where the other vehicle would not ordinarily do so.
