Several motorcycles seized, high speeds reported in undercover OPP blitz
Posted Sep 12, 2025 11:15:02 AM.
Last Updated Sep 12, 2025 01:27:44 PM.
On Sept. 10 and 11, officers, undercover police and the OPP traffic enforcement plane conducted a safety initiative where they laid 80 charges against dozens of drivers on Highway 417.
Four of the people charged held G2 licences and were caught stunt driving. One of them, OPP said, was clocked travelling more than double the limit at 206 km/h. Charges were laid against people as young as 17 years old to a 35-year-old, Constable Michael Fathi, of Ottawa OPP, told CityNews.
Officials also noted that several motorcycles were seized, including one that was travelling 189 km/h. This driver was also suspended, did not have insurance and was not licensed to drive a motorcycle.
In an interview, Fathi described how police were able to stop the driver of the bike using the aviation unit. At first, the motorcyclist was alerted by the OPP organized crime enforcement bureau, which relayed information to officers tracking the movements.
“There’s a spotter in the plane who can then calculate the speed of the motorcycle, which it had travelled at 189 km/h,” he said. “The airplane follows the vehicle, provides members on the ground with updated locations and then once the motorcycle has stopped, officers move in and arrest the driver.”
In this situation, the driver was arrested at a pizzeria in Stittsville.
During the day, the plane flies undetected above the roadway, but at night, it can be quite common to see and hear it because the spotter needs a better view of the roads. In one of the incidents, Fathi said the plane is a reason why a driver stopped for officers, not wanting to “deal with it.”
When people flee from officials, it’s usually because there are other violations, like in the instance of the driver caught at the pizzeria, Fathi explained.
Crown, OPP agree on tougher charges
There have been several instances of drivers travelling on Ottawa roadways above the threshold for stunt driving charges. In some situations, police are catching the same drivers for speeds double the limit.
Because of this, Fathi said police have consulted the Crown in Ottawa and agreed that any speeds over 180 km/h, officers can lay a dangerous driving charge.
“We’re trying to get the message out to people that you’re not facing just highway traffic charges, but you could now be facing a criminal code charge,” he said.
In this latest enforcement, some of the people caught faced criminal charges for dangerous operation. Fathi credits the Ottawa detachment commander as part of the reason for the changes and the proactive enforcement they are conducting.
“Through his leadership and enthusiasm, he wants to literally make Ottawa as safe as possible for the motoring public and use every resource available to us,” Fathi said.
