Ottawa police charged six drivers with stunt driving after catching them well over the speed limit on city roads, with one driver clocked at a staggering 204 km/h.
What happened
Ottawa police officers stopped six separate drivers found to be travelling at excessive speeds, a practice that falls under Ontario's stunt driving legislation. The most extreme case saw a driver hit 204 km/h, more than double the posted limit on most Ottawa roadways. The other five drivers were also caught significantly exceeding speed limits, triggering the same charges.
Why it matters for Ottawa drivers
Under Ontario's stunt driving law, anyone caught driving 50 km/h or more over the speed limit (or above certain thresholds depending on the zone) faces an automatic roadside licence suspension and vehicle impoundment, on top of steep fines and potential criminal charges. For Ottawa residents, that means a driver caught stunt driving on the Queensway, the Airport Parkway, or any city street can lose their car and licence before the matter even reaches court.
Ottawa has seen a steady stream of stunt driving enforcement in recent years as police target high speed and dangerous driving on major corridors. Roads like Hunt Club, the 417, and outer suburban stretches with higher speed limits tend to be common hot spots for these kinds of stops, since they give drivers more room to accelerate before getting caught.
The penalties
Stunt driving convictions in Ontario carry fines ranging from $2,000 to $10,000, up to six months in jail, and a licence suspension of up to two years for a first offence. Vehicles are impounded for a set period immediately following the stop, regardless of whether the driver is ultimately convicted. Repeat offenders face even harsher consequences, including longer suspensions and higher fines.
Ottawa's ongoing crackdown
This latest round of charges is part of a broader, ongoing effort by Ottawa police to curb dangerous and excessive speeding across the city. Officers routinely conduct targeted patrols aimed at catching stunt drivers before their behaviour leads to a serious collision. With six drivers charged in this single enforcement effort, it's a reminder that stunt driving charges remain a real and immediate risk for anyone tempted to push their speed well past the limit on Ottawa's roads.
Drivers in the city are encouraged to stick to posted limits, particularly on wider roads and highways where speeding can feel deceptively safe but carries the same legal consequences as anywhere else.
Source: CityNews Ottawa
