High-end Rides Impounded for 'Stunt Driving' as Cops Put Kibosh on Rally
The Ontario Provincial Police set up a traffic stop on Highway 400 over the weekend to halt a mob of motorists engaging in an illegal road rally. On Sunday, the department received numerous reports of vehicles driving aggressively and passing on the shoulder at speeds in excess of 150 kilometers an hour — 93 mph — on Highway 407 and Highway 400, north of Toronto.
Sgt. Kerry Schmidt of the OPP tweeted that at least 12 drivers charged with stunt driving had their vehicles impounded. Among the towed cars were an Audi R8, Mercedes-AMG C 63, Lamborghini Huracan, Porsche 911, BMW M3, Nissan GT-R, Jaguar XF, and a Chevrolet Corvette Z06.
Early reports coming from CTV News and the Toronto Star indicated that the speeders were taking part in an event known as the North Face Rally. The official website for the rally features clips of high-end sports cars intercut with greasy nightclub footage of affluent individuals having a good time. However, with the possible exception of one BMW swiftly merging onto the expressway, the site shows no obvious instances of speeding.
A legal representative of the accused group believes the claims of dangerous driving are inflated, due to the cars involved.
“They did get intercepted at the wrong place at the wrong time,” lawyer Amedeo DiCarlo said. “I think what had happened is that some witnesses had called in about cars driving fast. I mean if you’re driving on the 400 doing 80 kilometres an hour and somebody passes by doing 110 and you see it’s a Lamborghini or Ferrari, right away ‘oh that guy’s speeding’ and you know they claim those as witnesses. Mind you there are no witnesses. Police are asking for witnesses.”
While roughly 50 drivers were stopped by police on Sunday, only 12 were charged with stunt driving. Sgt. Schmidt’s Instagram featured photos of the vehicles as they were seized in Barrie, ON.
“They are not going to be arrested per se but they will all lose their driver’s licenses for one week and their vehicles are all being impounded for seven days as well,” Schmidt said in an interview. “They will have to speak to a judge to determine what monetary penalties will be on that.”
Ontario, for whatever reason, calls any overly enthusiastic or incredibly dumb automotive activity “stunt driving.” The law encompasses everything from excessive speeding (50 km/h over the limit) to road rage, doughnuts, driving on a bet, letting someone ride in the trunk, and even popping wheelies — assuming you’re on a motorcycle.
The punishment for stunt driving is pretty stiff, too. At a bare minimum you’ll see your vehicle impounded, get slapped with a $2,000 fine, and be stripped of your license for a time. Of course, that’s only if it’s your first offense. Repeat offenders risk more lengthy suspension periods, larger fines, and possible jail time.
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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@ JuniperBug.. Agreed ...The guy coming up behind me doing 145 ? I just get out of his/her way. Let them take their chances with the OPP. The moron sitting in the centre lane doing 92, is way more of a hazard. Mostly these folks are terrified of multi lane driving, and figure there "safe" in the centre lane. I would be that 63 year old boomer, and I'm not the "internet perfect driver". Back a few years ago, I felt sorry for myself. I compensated by buying a 425 hp 2SS Camaro 6 speed stick Frankly the Camaro scared the $hit out of me. Just too much car , for my driving skills. I traded it after 18 months. When the day comes that I'm not comfortable driving in todays world, I'll buy a bus pass.
I don't know the facts of this bust, but I've defended car guys and groups of Cyclists who have been "gang busted". What happens is this. You can drive your gray sedan alone at speed, if the car isn't too showy. I've always thought that big engine in boring shell is the way to go. If you take your jelly bean colored exotic/rare/expensive car out alone, you will be considered aggressive, if you drive like the guy in the grey sedan, who won't get much reaction from the other drivers. If there are a dozen of you, now your car club is "racing". You probably aren't, but the lifelong Grind in the beater Mitsubishi or almost dead minivan will pick up the cell phone with cracked screen and call you in (FTHEM). I've heard it on the scanner many times. When the Trooper who is closest catches up with them, they all get pulled over and whatever summons they think can stick, even a little, gets written. Grinder goes by, and laughs at the expensive cars lined up by the cops he called in. This happens to motorcycle clubs too, but bikers will scatter in 360 degrees. There, the one or two that stop get a summons for everyone. Jealousy, usually nothing more than that.....