Ottawa police lay twice as many stunt driving charges during 2021 Project NoiseMaker

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is disappointed with the results of this year's Project NoiseMaker.

The goal of the program is to reduce the number of loud and speeding vehicles on local roadways, but officers instead found themselves laying more than twice as many stunt driving charges during the second annual campaign.

From May through September of this year, Ottawa police laid 2,206 charges as part of Project NoiseMaker. Stunt driving charges went from 78 during the 2020 campaign to 157 in 2021. 

The highlights of charges laid, per various legislation, include: 

• Stunt driving: 157
• Speeding: 1,172
• Improper muffler / excessive noise: (143 + 32) = 175
• Cell phone (distracted driving): 77 
• Tinted windows: 65
• No valid driver licence: 93
• No seat belt: 31 

“It is disappointing to see a 100 per cent increase in the number of stunt driving offences this year,” said Sgt. Rob Cairns, with Traffic Services. “The recent increase with the Highway Traffic Act for the number of impound and licence suspension days will hopefully deter drivers from performing stunts that impact the community’s safety.” 

Although the project is over for 2021, the OPS says it's still is mindful of the vehicles that are still out there with modifications, especially modified mufflers which cause a public nuisance.  

“Project NoiseMaker has concluded, but that does not mean that aggressive drivers and noisy vehicles will not be stopped and tickets issued,” added Sgt. Cairns. 

Project NoiseMaker was originally launched in May of 2020, in response to a number of drivers who had been taking advantage of fewer vehicles on the roads due to the COVID-19 pandemic and speeding.