Officers from the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) laid 59 charges over two evenings in Barrhaven and Orléans last weekend.
The Residents Matter Enforcement Initiative is a late-night traffic unit that ensures safety in communities. On July 19 officers were in Barrhaven and on July 20 in Orléans.
“Some of the speeds we are seeing on our roadways are shocking. Not only are their lives in danger, but they are also endangering the lives of every other road user,” Cst. Phil Kane of the Ottawa Police Traffic Escort & Enforcement Unit, said in a press release. “The streets are no place for this reckless and foolish behaviour.”
Members of the unit laid 41 provincial offence notices during the blitz in Barrhaven, including 16 for speeding and seven for improper or no mufflers. Five drivers were charged with stunt driving/ street racing, the results from the initiative show.
Drivers were caught driving at high rates of speed on many Barrhaven roads including:
- 125 km/h in a 70 km/h zone – Strandherd Drive / Aura Avenue
- 112 km/h in a 70 km/h zone – Strandherd Drive / Chapman Mills Drive
- 126 km/h in a 70 km/h zone – Strandherd Drive / Claridge Drive
- 141 km/h in an 80 km/h zone – Limebank Road / Tom Roberts Road
Police said a motorcyclist was caught going 181 km/h in a 70 km/h on Strandherd Drive near Kennevale Drive. On top of a stunt driving charge, the driver was charged with careless driving, driving while suspended, not having a motorcycle licence, using plates not authorized for the vehicle and not having insurance.
Traffic blitz in Orléans
In Ottawa’s east end, officials laid 18 provincial offences including two for speeding, two for failing to display two licence plates and five for improper window tints.
Three drivers were charged for stunt driving/street racing:
- 141 km/h in an 80 km/h zone – Innes Road / Anderson Road
- 150 km/h in a 60 km/h zone – Trim Road / Portobello Boulevard
- 138 km/h in an 80 km/h zone – Highway 174 / Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard
The driver charged for driving 150 km/h in a 60 km/h zone was also charged with two Criminal Code violations for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and impaired driving for being than double the legal limit.
“Upon conviction, a stunt driving charge may result in a minimum $2000 fine, six demerit points, a possible six months in jail, and a further 1-year licence suspension,” officials said.