OPP dealing with people trying to hide plates, uninsured vehicles over holiday weekend

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) East Region have been busy this holiday season, reporting impaired driving, stunt driving, uninsured vehicles and more.

Police are also noting they are catching repeat offenders.

In the earlier hours on Monday, Ottawa OPP stopped a ride-share driver for stunt driving on Highway 417.

According to officers, the driver told police they were running late to pick up their client. Police issued an immediate 30-day driving suspension and the vehicle has been impounded for 14 days.

Several drivers caught for uninsured vehicles

Ottawa OPP and OPP traffic incident management and enforcement team were also part of an initiative this weekend, stopping vehicles that were not insured.

The driver of a Ford Bronco (pictured above) almost faced a charge of “produce false evidence” for attempting to provide false proof of insurance, wrote OPP in a post on X.

This charge would have resulted in a $10,000 penalty, they added.

On Sunday alone, OPP officers charged six drivers for not having insurance on their vehicles.

Upon conviction, the minimum fine for lack of insurance is $5,000. According to the post, an OPP TIME team member (who charged drivers on Sunday) has laid 51 offences to drivers for missing vehicle insurance, since Sept. 1.

“If you can’t afford to properly insure your vehicle, don’t drive. You are putting yourself and other drivers at risk,” wrote OPP.

Additionally, Ottawa OPP stopped a driver on Dec. 22, related to a tinted licence plate cover.

“The driver stated that he purchased it in an effort to avoid the ALPR cameras installed in OPP cruisers,” wrote OPP.

According to police, the driver said his parents also went out bought covers for their plates — but ALPR cameras can read through plate covers, officials noted.

This driver received a $110 ticket for an obstructed plate and was told to remove it.

Additionally, the driver is facing a minimum $2,000 fine, six demerit points, and a one-year driving prohibition upon conviction, wrote OPP in a post on X.

Man caught using phone with wife, children in vehicle

On Sunday evening, officers pulled over a vehicle after observing the driver using their cell phone while driving on Highway 417.

The driver, who had his wife and children in the vehicle, was charged with distracted driving, including a $615 fine and six demerit points.

The driver could face escalating sanctions upon conviction, including a 30-day driving prohibition. According to OPP, he had four prior convictions for the same offence, with the most recent conviction on Dec. 10.