19-year-old caught going almost 200 km/h on Highway 417

Ontario Provincial Police charged a young driver late Saturday night with stunt driving.

According to officials, the 19-year-old driver was travelling eastbound on Highway 417 near Moodie Drive. The area is one that police have told CityNews they patrol heavily and often catch speeders in the area.

The driver was going 196 km/h according to an officer who caught the vehicle on their speed gun.

The young person received a roadside 30-day licence suspension and a 14-day vehicle impound. A $2,000 fine, six demerit points and a one year driving prohibition could be place on them upon conviction.

A stunt driving charge is automatically handed out for vehicles travelling more than 50 km/h over the posted speed limit, however, it can also encompass things like street racing, passing illegally and driving with a person in the trunk.

Both provincial police and Ottawa Police Service have surpassed the number of stunt driving charges laid this year than they did in July 2023.

A previous post from Ottawa police’s Traffic Escort and Enforcement Unit says officers have laid more than 230 stunt driving charges as of July 19.

This, according to police, is an increase from July 2023.