Para Transpo bus driver among 26 charged with stunt driving over long weekend
Ottawa police say a Para Transpo bus driver is among 26 people charged with stunt driving over the Thanksgiving long weekend.
Police released their list of tickets and charges from long weekend traffic enforcement, called “Operation Impact” on Wednesday, including 425 tickets for things like speeding (117 tickets), disobeying signs (40 tickets), cellphone violations (30 tickets) and running red lights (21 tickets).
Ottawa police said there were no passengers on the Para Transpo bus when the driver was stopped for allegedly stunt driving.
The city of Ottawa says it has launched an internal safety review into the stunt driving charge.
"OC Transpo’s top priority is the safety and security of our customers and our staff. We are aware of the situation and are taking it seriously," Manager of Bus and Para Transit Operations Chad Maahs said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.
"As soon as we were apprised of the incident, we took immediate action and started an internal safety review and continue to work closely with the Ottawa Police."
Other accused stunt drivers include one who was going 157 km/h in an 89 km/h zone, eight G2 drivers, and one who was in a bus lane watching a video. Seventeen of the 26 drivers accused of stunt driving were stopped in a construction zone on Highway 174.
A roadside stunt driving charge comes with an automatic 30-day licence suspension and a 14-day vehicle impound. Stunt driving is applied whenever a driver is caught going 40 km/h above the speed limit on roads with a posted maximum under 80 km/h, or 50 km/h above the limit on all other roads.
“Operation Impact is a public awareness campaign focused on education and enforcement of impaired driving due to alcohol, drugs and fatigue, aggressive driving, distracted driving and the use of seat belts and child car seats,” said S/Sgt. Denis Hull, head of the OPS Traffic Unit in a news release. “These are the main causes of death and injury on Canadian roadways.”
Police said they also laid nine charges for driving while suspended, one for being unlicensed, and 12 for driving impaired.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I screamed in shock and horror': Family faces deadly Vancouver hit-and-run driver during sentencing
The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.
Storm brewing in Gulf of Mexico could intensify into a hurricane, threatening Florida
A storm system brewing in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to reach tropical storm status later Saturday, with forecasters warning it could intensify into a hurricane headed to Florida next week.
Video shows person break into Old Montreal building before fatal fire that killed mother, daughter
The two people who died in a major fire in Old Montreal on Friday were a mother and her seven-year-old daughter, sources told Noovo Info.
Looking for cheap flights for the holidays? Here are some tips to remember
Travelling on a budget can be stressful, but there are ways you can ensure you're getting the best deal on flights as the holiday season approaches.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice are linked to an increased risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University.
OPP charge driver going 175 km/h on Highway 417 in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police have laid stunt charges against a driver caught speeding 75 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end.
The Menendez brothers case is not the only one that's been affected by a true crime documentary
Being an armchair detective has turned into an American obsession, fueled by an abundance of true-crime content in podcasts and television series. But some of those projects have sparked actual legal developments.
America votes: How the election could impact the Canada-U.S. border
While America's southern border remains a hot button issue on the campaign trail, the result of the U.S. election in November could also impact the northern frontier with Canada, which remains the longest undefended border in the world.
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard found not guilty of sexual assault
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.