Over 70 charges issued in Barrhaven, Riverside South in just one night
Posted Aug 21, 2024 04:06:29 PM.
Last Updated Aug 21, 2024 04:07:47 PM.
Ottawa police officers were deployed to the Barrhaven and Riverside South areas last Friday, as a part of the Residents Matter late-night traffic enforcement initiative that kicked off in June.
Ottawa Police Service (OPS) said 73 provincial offence notices (PONs) were issued during Friday’s enforcement — including 27 for speeding, eight for licence plate visibility issues and six for failing to display two licence plates.
Other charges included unnecessary noise, failure to stop at a red light and a vehicle equipped with a speed measuring warning device.
“RMET officers are taking a zero-tolerance approach to all speed, impaired driving, unnecessary noise and related dangerous and disruptive driving behaviour on city streets and roadways,” OPS said in a statement.
One of the more egregious issues, was seven drivers charged for stunt driving including one that had multiple people in the trunk of a vehicle.
Police caught eight occupants in the five-seater vehicle going 111 km/h on Greenbank Road and Foxfield Drive.
This included two passengers in the trunk, and one person sitting on the front passenger’s lap. Driving with passengers in the trunk is an additional stunt driving charge. Additionally, officers reported that four passengers were not wearing seatbelts.
According to OPS, seven drivers were charged with stunt driving/street racing on Friday:
- 137 km/h in an 80 km/h zone – Woodroffe Avenue / Slack Road
- 112 km/h in a 60 km/h zone – Greenbank Road / Highbury Park
- 122 km/h in a 60 km/h zone – Greenbank Road / Foxfield Drive
- 111 km/h in a 60 km/h zone – Greenbank Road / Foxfield Drive
- 121 km/h in a 60 km/h zone – Greenbank Road / Foxfield Drive
- 114 km/h in a 70 km/h zone – Strandherd Drive / Dealership Drive
- 135 km/h in an 80 km/h zone – Limebank Road / Leitrim Road
Stunt drivers are facing license suspensions (30 days), removal of their vehicles (14 days) and have upcoming court dates. Upon conviction, stunt driving charges can include a fine of $2,000 – $10,000, six demerit points, a possible six months in jail, and a further one-year to three-year licence suspension, wrote OPS.
The driver speeding on Strandherd Drive / Dealership Drive was also charged with the possession of a Schedule I substance (drugs) under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act, officials noted.
Other vehicles stopped included two drivers driving without insurance, facing a minimum fine of $5,000 upon conviction.
According to OPS, 21 Court Summons were issued, and three Criminal Code charges were laid during the late-night traffic enforcement initiative.
“The negative impact of high-risk, disruptive behaviour on our city streets cannot be understated. Residents have spoken, and we’ve been listening; in forming the Residents Matter Enforcement Team (RMET), our intention is to provide a robust enforcement presence in the evening hours throughout the summer,” Sgt. Craig Roberts, OPS District Traffic Manager, said.
Ottawa police has surpassed the number of stunt driving charges laid this year than they did in July 2023, noted officials last month.
In a post from the force’s Traffic Escort and Enforcement Unit, OPS reported that officers have laid over 230 stunt driving charges as of July 19 — a significant increase from July 2023.
