Ottawa police officers target stunt drivers this weekend as councillors warn speeding is a 'significant issue' this fall
![Ottawa Police Ottawa Police say a motorist was clocked at 121 km/h on Bronson Avenue on Saturday. (Photo courtesy: Twitter/OPSTrafficCM)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2021/5/9/ottawa-police-1-5420578-1697224027860.png)
Ottawa police officers will be on the look out for stunt drivers, dangerous drivers and impaired drivers on Ottawa roads Friday night, as councillors hear complaints from residents about speeding and stunt driving in their wards.
Ottawa police issued a statement on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, saying that officers with the Traffic Unit will be out on the roads this weekend.
On Friday afternoon, police said a driver in a BMW was stopped going 108 km/h in a 60 km/h zone in the area of Bank and Athens.
"A stunt driving charge is never a good start to the weekend," police said.
The Friday night blitz comes one week after officers issued dozens of tickets on Ottawa roads during the Thanksgiving weekend 'Operation Impact' traffic blitz. Police say officers issued 114 tickets for speeding and distracted driving, and charged nine motorists with impaired driving.
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
- Sign up now for our nightly CTV News Ottawa newsletter
Councillors say they have been receiving complaints about speeding and stunt racing in their neighbourhoods, calling it a "significant issue" across the city this summer and fall.
"I can hear it almost every summer night when cars are racing along the Blackburn Bypass and I know that there are other areas in our community that also have a lot of these complaints," Coun. Laura Dudas told Newstalk 580 CFRA's Ottawa at Work with Kristy Cameron this week.
Barrhaven West Coun. David Hill says he wants to establish more community safety zones across the city for speed enforcement cameras, along with looking at increasing fines for speeding and stunt driving.
"Looking at what are some of the root cause issues here and how can we actually deal with this in terms of looking at road design issues, looking at strategies with Ottawa police," Hill said. "I'm interested in now over the winter to take a look at if there are mechanisms with which we can look at advocating for modernization in the Highway Traffic Act in order to increase some of the sentencing options for extreme speed infractions or for repeat offenders."
Ottawa police release information daily about drivers stopped for stunt driving.
On Wednesday, the Ottawa Police Service Traffic Unit said that a 19-year-old "rocketing" northbound on Bank Street was observed by officers going 118 km/h in a 60 km/h zone.
"Exceeded any reasonable interpretation of 'responsible' driving by a long shot," police said on X, adding the driver was charged with stunt driving.
On Thursday, officers stopped a vehicle going 98 km/h on Walkley Road in a 50 km/h zone.
Coun. Catherine Kitts says while she is a supporter of photo radar cameras to deter speeding, the city needs to ensure police are staffed to help keep roads safe.
"We need to bolster our traffic control teams so that there's more proactive enforcement. People have been emboldened by the fact there isn't as much enforcement out in Ottawa and we're seeing that," Kitts said.
Kitts says Ottawa needs to look at other jurisdictions for solutions to speeding.
"I think other municipalities in other parts in the world have even more sophisticated technology where there's cameras that move around, they're not in a fixed location, they move around so that you can be caught elsewhere. I think we need to look at these things," Kitts said.
Dudas agrees more officers on the streets are needed to slow down roads.
"I'm not opposed whatsoever to lobbying the provincial government to change the Highway Traffic Act so that they can increase fines and really penalize those who are breaking the rules," Dudas said. "I wouldn't assume that having a static technology in place for a particular road will eventually deter them from doing it whatsoever. I'm open to any ideas, but I think, frankly, I really do think having police out there enforcing it."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga, Ont.: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Ont., Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
FBI says Trump was indeed struck by bullet during assassination attempt
Nearly two weeks after Donald Trump’s near assassination, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president’s ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former U.S. president’s injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.