Armstrong Driver Charged After Pickup Clocked at 140 km/h in 80 Zone
ARMSTRONG — A 23-year-old Armstrong man is facing a stunt driving charge after Ontario Provincial Police say a pickup truck was stopped travelling 140 km/h in an 80 km/h zone.
Police say the driver was not alone in the vehicle. One adult passenger and two toddlers were also inside the pickup at the time of the traffic stop.
Licence suspended and vehicle impounded
Officers from the Armstrong OPP charged the driver with stunt driving under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
As a result of the roadside stop, the driver’s licence was suspended for 30 days and the pickup truck was impounded for 14 days.
Ontario says stunt driving or street racing can result in an immediate 30-day licence suspension and immediate 14-day vehicle impoundment at the roadside. Upon conviction, drivers can face a minimum fine of $2,000 and a maximum fine of $10,000, along with further licence suspensions.
Legal context: stunt driving in Ontario
Stunt driving is addressed under section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act, which prohibits driving a motor vehicle in a race, contest, stunt, or on a bet or wager. Ontario’s stunt-driving regulation includes excessive speeding, including driving 50 km/h or more over the posted limit where the speed limit is 80 km/h or higher.
If convicted, penalties available to the court can include a fine between $2,000 and $10,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both. A conviction can also lead to a further licence suspension.
Police warn speed puts passengers and other road users at risk
The OPP is reminding motorists that speeding remains one of the leading causes of preventable collisions.
Police say no amount of speeding is worth risking the lives of drivers, passengers or others on the road — especially when children are in the vehicle.
Motorists are urged to slow down, remain attentive and help keep highways and community roads safe for everyone.
Presumption of innocence
The charge has not been proven in court. All accused individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
