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Garbage truck nailed for street racing in Goderich, Ont.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

A garbage truck has been impounded and its driver faces charges in what is believed to be the first case of a commercial vehicle snagged by Ontario's new street racing legislation. "I don't think this guy is going to get the employee-of-the-month prize anytime soon," Const. Joanna van Mierlo of the Huron County detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police remarked Thursday.

An OPP officer clocked the truck speeding at 112 km/h in a 60 km/h zone Wednesday in the small town of Goderich, Ont., about 200 kilometres northwest of Toronto. Police stopped the tractor-trailer-sized truck in a two-laned paved road in a small hamlet that they had chosen to target.

"We had identified a number of areas in the county to be problem areas," van Mierlo said. "As a result, this guy was pulled over during a direct speed blitz by our officer." Van Mierlo said the truck belongs to a private garbage contractor and the driver was working at the time. "I think this is the first commercial vehicle to get pulled over for street racing," she said. "It's pretty significant, considering large commercial vehicles have a harder time stopping on a dime."

The truck has been impounded for seven days and the driver's licence has also been suspended for a week. The driver faces one count of racing and one count of failing to inspect his motor vehicle. He is set to appear in a Goderich court on June 5. On Saturday, Windsor, Ont., OPP charged a 26-year-old man with serious speeding infractions after he was stopped for attempting to pass a marked police vehicle while driving at 178 km/h. His licence was also suspended and his vehicle impounded. The tougher street racing legislation came into effect in the province last September.

It gives police the ability to impound a vehicle and suspend a driver's licence for seven days each, and to issue a minimum $2,000 fine if a driver is caught going 50 kilometres over the posted speed limit.

OPP Officer Charged Under Street Racing Law
Wednesday May 14, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff

As the Ontario Provincial Police scan the province's highways from the sky and the ground looking for dangerous and aggressive drivers there's word one of their own is facing charges under the new street racing law.

A 43-year-old Peterborough County OPP constable was allegedly clocked driving at least 50 kilometres over the speed limit on Highway 115, just south of Peterborough, on March 25 according to a published report. The officer was in his cruiser at the time.

Under the street racing law, which went into effect last September, a driver caught speeding 50 km per hour or more above the posted limit can have their licence and vehicle seized immediately. The maximum fine for the crime was also bumped up to $10,000.

On Tuesday police organizations from across the province gathered in Markham to kick off Project Erase (Eliminating Racing Activities on Streets Everywhere). Authorities say 42 people have been killed by speeders in the GTA since 1999.

Since the street racing law went into effect, more than 4,500 charges have been laid.

The officer charged in March has been moved to desk duty at his detachment and is scheduled to appear in court in June.

Lloyd Tapp is facing two charges under the street racing law.

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