A message from the OPP
The Huntsville Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to make the public aware of the upcoming changes taking effect on July 1, 2021. Ontario is taking action against stunt driving with the introduction of the Moving Ontario More Safely Act, also known as the MOMS Act.
The MOMS Act will create a lower speed threshold for stunt driving charges of driving 40 kilometres per hour or more above the speed limit on roads where the speed limit is less than 80 kilometres per hour.
The speed threshold on roadways with speed limits 80 kilometres per hour or over will remain at 50 kilometres per hour or more above the speed limit on that road.
The MOMS Act will also set a default speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour on a highway not within a local municipality or a built-up area.
Roadside sanctions for stunt driving will be:
- Fourteen day vehicle impoundment
Post-conviction penalties for stunt driving will be:
First Offence
- A minimum fine of $2,000 and a maximum fine of $10,000
- A jail term of up to six months
- Six demerit points
- A post-conviction driver’s licence suspension of at least one year to a maximum of three years
- A mandatory driver education course to educate drivers on the risks and consequences of aggressive driving behaviour
Second and Subsequent Offences
- A minimum fine of $2,000 and a maximum fine of $10,000
- A jail term of up to six months
- Six demerit points
- A post-conviction driver’s licence suspension, for second offence a minimum of three to ten years, for third offence, a lifetime suspension (which may be reduced if certain conditions are met) and for a fourth offence a lifetime suspension
- A mandatory driver education course to educate drivers on the risks and consequences of aggressive driving behaviour
Huntsville OPP remains committed to ensuring Ontario roads are safe. The OPP is reminding drivers that speed and aggressive driving kills.
The Huntsville OPP would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Canada Day. Let’s work together this long weekend to make our roadways the safest in Canada.
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First offense seems to be a bit drastic, maybe they start increasing penalties of actual criminal offenses, if the goal is to make a real change. Someone caught distributing narcotics and carrying an illegally obtained firearm has less severe charges.
That’s great. Now, if the OPP could manage to speed patrol some of the District roads (M.R. 2, aka Ravenscliffe Road), which has a posted speed limit of 60km/hr, it might discourage the multiple vehicles that go by here at 100 km/hr plus. The straight stretch from Line Hill to Camp Tawingo is a favourite to “put the hammer down!”.
Just sayin’.