Ontario Gov't cracking down on street racers

[TheProfessor]

Ont. Gov't Seeks To Crack Down On Street Racers, Drunk Drivers

Thursday April 12, 2007

Street racers and drunk drivers could face stiffer punishment here than anywhere else in the country if proposed provincial legislation is passed.

The bill, brought forth by Dalton McGuinty's Liberals, would give police power to automatically suspend the driver's licences of offenders for up to a week. They'd also be allowed to seize street racers' vehicles for the same amount of time.

If made law, the plan would hit guilty parties hard in the wallet, with fines of up to $10,000. That would be the highest fine for such an offence in Canada.

McGuinty delivered the message that neither drunk driving nor street racing is acceptable in the province and those who choose to break the law will face major consequences.

"There can be no tolerance in Ontario for people who put other people's lives at risk on our roads," McGuinty said. "We want to make it clear - if you drink and drive or if you street race, you'll pay and the penalty will be tough."

British Columbia and Manitoba have already brought in tougher punishments for such offences. Attorney General Michael Bryant suggests repeat offenders could face losing their wheels forever.

"In order to increase road safety, repeat drunk drivers would now face the possibility of having a civil court order their cars forfeited forever," Bryant said. "We will use every civil and criminal tool available to us to keep Ontario's roads safe from drunk drivers."

The proposed legislation, if passed, would:

Allow the courts to take away vehicles from repeat drinking and driving offenders

Establish an early ignition interlock program for Criminal Code offenders

Increase roadside drivers licence suspensions for drunk drivers

Take drivers licences away from street racers and increase fines

Source (with video): http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_9712.aspx




So what are your thoughts on this? I for one am glad, I've always hated the idea of street racing as you run the risk of injuring or killing others. I know some people have said that it is not fair to have it lumped in with drunk driving, but does it really matter......the net effect is the same.

[mEtH]

Yah been reading this in every paper I picked up this morning. I dont understand why they keep calling it street racing when most of the bill refers to dangerous driving. Yes Street Racing is the commonly known form I guess but what about those people weaving through traffic, running lights etc.

I like the fact that they can crack down on these penalties immediately but do you think it may get abused? The impounding of a car for a week is more of what I am referring to. To what extent or classification is there set for impounding a car, officer's judgement?

[Wild Weasel]

This is what I'm afraid of. I guess I picked the right time to start driving a less conspicuous car!

[majic]

and to those who say "this sux".. you shouldn't have voted liberal :chuckle .. think about it during the next election ;)

[Garu]

This is what I'm afraid of. I guess I picked the right time to start driving a less conspicuous car!

This should increase the value of MS3. :chuckle

[Jeff-TheBiz]

While I think street racing is unacceptable, it is often used to profile and to single out people with fast looking cars.

Looking fast and going fast are 2 different things.


But when it comes to the drunk driving.... :flaming

I figure if you are caught drinking & driving, they should take away your license and your car. DONE.

[Wild Weasel]

I agree with the drunk driving.

And frankly, I'd agree with the street racing as well if it were as cut and dry to prove.

My fear with the street racing stuff is that it's very much at the discretion of the officer. If I put the pedal down just to get into an opening in front of some other riced out car and a cop sees it, does he brand me as a street racer and take my car?

It's not like he can give me a racerizer test to determine whether I've been racing or not.

[Jeff-TheBiz]

It's not like he can give me a racerizer test to determine whether I've been racing or not.

+1 :werd

[Sean80]

I agree with the drunk driving.

And frankly, I'd agree with the street racing as well if it were as cut and dry to prove.

My fear with the street racing stuff is that it's very much at the discretion of the officer. If I put the pedal down just to get into an opening in front of some other riced out car and a cop sees it, does he brand me as a street racer and take my car?

It's not like he can give me a racerizer test to determine whether I've been racing or not.

My thoughts exactly. What happens if a cop sees two side by side cars take off quickly from a light, not necessarily racing? I think there is a very big difference between cars speeding and weaving through traffic while running lights and a simple light to light. Also, another problem I see with this is people are going to be more tempted to run from the cops due to the harsh penalties. I think this may lead to more dangerous police chases which usually end up being more dangerous than street racing. My two cents.

[wingnut12]

I would agree with stiffer sentances if the laws behind them were more clear. As it is, it amounts to a waste of tax payer dollars attempting to increase the enforcement of laws that are difficult at best to prove.

I also had a good chuckle upon hearing that they were considering banning nitrus. It could easily be argued that this would be discriminatory considering that such a power adder is just another way of cheaply increasing horsepower, one could also easily get similar horse power other ways (buying a different motor), and that currently, there are no laws that address lowering horsepower across the board. Basically, a person with a 500 hp production car, should be treated equally to a person that modifies a car to achieve the same effect. Lawyers will have a field day.

EDIT: Besides one way to reduce unsafe driving practices is to allow more avenues by which people can safely explore their desire to drive at the limit, like track days. Every time police gather at the exits of these events to ticket these law abiding citizens, they send two messages:
A) Race on public streets since you probably won't get bothered
B) Money is more important than safety.

Actions always speak louder than words, and this is my .02c

[Shat2]

While I think street racing is unacceptable, it is often used to profile and to single out people with fast looking cars.

Looking fast and going fast are 2 different things.


But when it comes to the drunk driving.... :flaming

I figure if you are caught drinking & driving, they should take away your license and your car. DONE.

i agree, this is going to lead to alot of stereotyping and will cause alot of problems for people that made their cars look nicer~ instead of stereotyping, they should do somthing about those old bats in those huge mini tanks which they call SUV's... i've been in so many encounters with these people, its not funny anymore~ and for drunk driving, yea they should take away their cars...

[-RJ3-]

Maybe cops will judge or observe how a car launches at the lights.
If two cars side by side squeal tires at a light, then that is considered racing... If two cars seem to be weaving in traffic, or following too closely
at eachother then yah thats pretty obvious too. It all depends on how the car reacts. Personally now that i'm back to summer mode, its just cruising no speed whatsoever

[jaM3ican]

with all that is going on today.... The government has to single out streeet racing, yes it is dangerous to all of us on the streets.

Trafficing of drugs, sexual abusers entering schools, gun control, Terrorists entering the country, government funding for schools, hospitals and healthcare.
I know that this a little off topic, but i think that more emphasis should be put into more relevant things.

If you want to street race and take your own life and other peoples lives into your own hands so be it. They will get what is coming to them, Karma thing.

[3GFX]

and to those who say "this sux".. you shouldn't have voted liberal :chuckle .. think about it during the next election ;)

I did, where were the rest of you? :chuckle


While I think street racing is unacceptable, it is often used to profile and to single out people with fast looking cars.

Looking fast and going fast are 2 different things.


I hope it doesn't get abused. People who look fast don't necessarily drive fast.


I figure if you are caught drinking & driving, they should take away your license and your car. DONE.

Totally agreed. DUI is terrible and the most dangerous out of any crime. Punishment for a DUI should be raised not for "street racing".

[wtom]

They should also continue ticketing those mofos who drive the limit or slower in the far left lane of any streets and highways!!!!!

As for stereotyping "street racers" ... oh yeah it's going to be hell. I've been pulled over once before without any charges just for accelerating "pretty fast" off a traffic light. :whoa

Add in another type of driver that should be considered DANGEROUS: RUBBERNECKERS!!!

[justin]

They should also continue ticketing those mofos who drive the limit or slower in the far left lane of any streets and highways!!!!!

I agree with your first point... Impeding the flow of traffic is dangerous and just plain ignorant.


As for stereotyping "street racers" ... oh yeah it's going to be hell. I've been pulled over once before without any charges just for accelerating "pretty fast" off a traffic light. :whoa

Unsafe start is what I believe it's called. It's a BS ticket IMO, and the only cops that give them out are the ones having bad days, or the ones that like to throw the book at you. And believe me, there are a good few of those kinds of officers.


Add in another type of driver that should be considered DANGEROUS: RUBBERNECKERS!!!

+1... I absolutely HATE rubberneckers... no wonder so many people get rear-ended.

[Elder_MMHS]

Besides one way to reduce unsafe driving practices is to allow more avenues by which people can safely explore their desire to drive at the limit, like track days. Every time police gather at the exits of these events to ticket these law abiding citizens, they send two messages:
A) Race on public streets since you probably won't get bothered
B) Money is more important than safety.

Actions always speak louder than words, and this is my .02c

Well why would the police "automatically" ticket track racers? I could see it legitimately happening if say, the vehicle had obviously illegal yet common modifications like window tints too dark or on forbidden sections, missing front license plate, high-temp/coloured aftermarket HIDs, etc. Owners who apply those types of obvious mods must assume the risk of getting caught and handed a vehicle inspection ticket.

Other owners who draw suspicion upon themselves with loud and/or large exhausts, cranking the car's subwoofer to the max and the like while police are observing should know better.

[TheFastLane]

I think this will give police too much power to control 'fast' looking vehicles on the road.