July 23, 2016
1813
“HIGHWAYS ARE NOT OUR RACEWAYS – TAKE IT TO THE TRACK”
(HURON COUNTY, ON) – The Huron County OPP Traffic Unit has a message for those aggressive drivers who feel the need to drive at dangerously high speeds: “Highways are not raceways. If you feel the need to speed, take it to the track.”
This reminder came as a result of four Huron County cases in the past 10 days where drivers have been charged under the province’s Street Racing/Stunt Driving legislation. In two cases, vehicle speeds exceeded double the highway speed limit.
Then, just minutes after posting this warning message for drivers to slow down, officers found another driver speeding along at an excessive speed.
Thursday, July 21, just after 11a.m., a Huron County OPP officer observed a Nissan 350Z sports car travelling northbound on Bluewater Veterans Highway near Port Albert at a high rate of speed. A speed measurement was taken with a RADAR device and the driver’s speed was locked at 134 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone.
Carole FOSTER, 56, of Kincardine has been charged with Racing. She has a court date scheduled for Sept. 20, at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich. Her licence has been suspended for seven days and her vehicle is now impounded for the week.
The previous four incidents of racing were as follows:
July 10, at around 1 a.m., a Huron OPP officer spotted a Ford F-150 driver travelling eastbound on Huron Road toward Seaforth at a very high rate of speed. The speed of the truck was measured with a RADAR device at 164 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone. 25-year-old Grant McMILLAN of Clinton will have to attend court Aug. 23, to answer to his Racing charge.
Later that evening around 8:45 p.m., a Huron OPP officer stopped a Kawasaki motorbike that was travelling southbound on Base Line toward Clinton at a high rate of speed. The motorbike was travelling at a speed of 137 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone. Bryan NURSE, 34, of Mitchell was charged with Racing. He will be attending court later this summer to answer to his charge.
July 12, around 8:30 p.m., a Huron OPP officer observed a full-size GMC pick-up truck travelling westbound on Sawmill Road at a high rate of speed - 132 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone. 21-year-old James GIBSON of Central Huron will be attending court in Goderich later this summer to answer to his charge.
July 15, at approximately 7:30 p.m., a Ford Escape was spotted speeding northbound on Bluewater Veterans Highway near St. Joseph’s. he officer confirmed the speed of the vehicle with a RADAR device and measured the speed at 165 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone. 22-year-old, Joshua FINN of Windsor has been charged with Racing. He will be making a trip to court Aug. 23, to answer to his charge.
“While the vast majority of drivers obey the speed limit and drive safely on our roadways, clearly these aggressive drivers didn’t get the message," says Sergeant Ryan Olmstead, Huron OPP Traffic Unit. "Highways are not raceways. If you feel the need to speed, take it to the track. If you choose to place yourself and every other road user at a higher risk of a crash, be prepared for the consequences when you get pulled over. There is absolutely zero tolerance for driving at race track speeds on our highways.”
UNDERSTAND THE RISKS
The risk of a fatality or serious injury is almost five times greater for vehicles crashing at 50 km/h or more above the posted limit on a highway with a posted limit of 100 km/h. The increase in risk is even greater on roads with lower posted limits. For example, on roads with a posted limit of 60 km/h or less, the risk of a fatality or serious injury is almost eight times greater for vehicles colliding at 50 km/h or more above the posted limit.
KNOW THE PENALTIES
An immediate seven-day licence suspension and seven-day vehicle impoundment at roadside
If convicted:
Fines from $2,000 to $10,000
Courts can impose a driver licence suspension of up to 10 years for a second conviction within 10 years
The accumulation of six demerit points, a maximum licence suspension of two years for a first conviction and a maximum six months in jail
Increased insurance premiums
IMPAIRED and OVER-80 CHARGES LAID
(GODERICH, ON) – A 52-year-old Goderich man is facing an Impaired Driving and an Over-80 charge following a traffic stop that took place earlier this week.
Just after 10:30 p.m. July 18, Huron County OPP officers received a call from a member of the public reporting a possible impaired driver who was last seen travelling westbound on Suncoast Drive, Goderich, in a white van.
Officers began patrolling for the suspect vehicle and moments later, a Huron OPP officer spotted the suspect vehicle at the intersection of Bayfield Road and Suncoast Drive. The driver proceeded to pull into a nearby parking lot and was stopped by police. Upon speaking with the male driver, the officer detected the odour of alcohol on the driver’s breath. Upon further investigation, the officer observed the driver to be displaying signs that his ability to drive a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol. As a result, the driver was placed under arrest for impaired driving.
He was transported to the Huron OPP detachment where he provided two samples of his breath to a qualified Intoxilizer Technician. Both samples registered over the legal limit.
As a result, 52-year-old Robert LITTLE of Goderich has been charged with Impaired Driving and Drive Motor Vehicle – Over-80 Milligrams of Alcohol. He has been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich, Aug. 22. He was served with a 90-day automatic driver’s licence suspension and his motor vehicle will be impounded for seven days.
*THESE CHARGES HAVE YET TO BE PROVEN IN COURT*
REPORT SUSPICIOUS PEOPLE TO POLICE IMMEDIATELY
(HURON COUNTY, ON) – Members of the OPP West Region Crime Unit, along with detachment investigators, are urging citizens to report any and all suspicious people to police immediately, after noticing a spike in daylight break-and-enter incidents across the region.
West Region OPP has investigated 25 incidents since the spring. In most cases, expensive jewellery and cash have been taken.
The motive of operation (MO) is the same in each instance. Suspect(s) enter the home through an unlocked door, window or garage. In situations where the doors are locked, the suspect(s) will knock on the door and if no one answers, may forcibly enter the home. In instances when the homeowner answers the door, the suspect will use a ruse such as being interested in the real estate, asking for directions or engaging the homeowner in some other form of deception to deflect from his/her criminal intent.
The suspect(s), usually a female (at the door) and male (in a waiting vehicle) have been travelling extensively across West Region, committing these crimes. Witness accounts have described the suspects as 35-65 years of age with a heavy foreign accent.
The OPP encourages all homeowners to always lock doors, windows and garages to help prevent these crimes from happening. Police encourage anyone who observes “suspicious” activity, people or vehicles, to report it to police immediately by dialing 911. If you wish to remain anonymous you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) where you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
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