Ottawa Police issue nearly 2,000 speeding, stunt driving tickets in nine weeks

OTTAWA -- Ottawa Police have issued nearly 2,000 speeding tickets during the first nine weeks of a blitz targeting speeding on Ottawa roads.

Police launched "Operation Overwatch" on April 25 to crackdown on stunt driving and speeding during the COVID-19 pandemic. There had been an increase in complaints about speeding while traffic volumes were reduced this spring.

According to the Twitter account @OPSTrafficCM, over 1,975 tickets have been issued during Operation Overwatch, including "far too many" tickets for speeding 30, 40 and 50 kilometres over the posted speed limit.

Our officers continue to hold High-Flyers, Stunt Drivers/Riders and Street Racers to account with Operation Overwatch. We've issued over 1975 tickets with far too many in the +30,40 & 50km/h range OVER the posted limit...our friends & families deserve safer streets. pic.twitter.com/8DXWRdZIoU

— OPS☆TrafficCaseManager☆ (@OPSTrafficCM) June 29, 2020

Ottawa Police have said "Operation Overwatch" will continue through the summer.

Meantime, police have issued 437 tickets as part of "Project Noisemaker" focusing on street racing and unnecessary noise from vehicles.

Second round of Project #NoiseMaker in the books...our Frontline & Traffic officers working into the early hours with a focus on Street Racing & Unnecessary Noise...437 tickets issued...8 Stunt charges and 6 Criminal Charges laid. #NoiseMaker #OurStreets #Community pic.twitter.com/nzOKEos6h9

— OPS☆TrafficCaseManager☆ (@OPSTrafficCM) June 29, 2020