Gathering of over 40 vehicles broken up by police, leading to charges

Officers are targeting large illegal gatherings of vehicles that bring dozens of people to an area of the city, creating disruptions to the community.

Last week, Ottawa police from across the nation’s capital participated in a city-wide traffic project that disbanded two illegal gatherings and laid several charges against drivers.

Officials were first called to the 1500 block of Merivale Road around 8:30 p.m. on June 5. When they arrived, officers recalled that about 40 motorcycles and over 15 vehicles had gathered.

“Officers directed the group to disperse, and the crowd left the area with minimal issue,” the press release reads.

In the east end of the city, another group of officers monitored a gathering of about 40 vehicles in the 0-100 block of Trainyards Drive.

In the operation, police laid serious offences against a 30-year-old driver for driving a vehicle without insurance, without a valid permit and failing to display front licence plates.

They were pulled over in Thorndale Drive and Walkley Road area of the Riverside Park South community.

Another driver, an 18-year-old, was stopped after police caught them travelling 126 km/h in a 70 km/h zone near Strandherd and Beatrice drives in Barrhaven. They were charged with stunt driving, which includes a licence suspension, and the vehicle was impounded for two weeks.

Between the two incidents, police issued nine charges for speeding, three for failure to display a front licence plate and two for failing to stop at a red light.

Three operations to deter car-meets

This is the third of its project type Ottawa police have been involved in.

Earlier this month, police joined forces with the OPP to conduct enforcement that resulted in almost 40 charges being laid.

This enforcement comes after police dispersed 75 vehicles in a Kanata parking lot that had gathered for a meet-up.

According to Ottawa police, they conducted a traffic enforcement operation last week after a car meet-up was prompted on social media as a legitimate event. Police said that it drew in 75 vehicles after the information to meet up in a parking lot in Kanata was circulated online.

Officers confirmed with the owners of the lot that they had not authorized the event, and the group was forced to leave.