If you have a heavy foot, watch out. You could find yourself charged with stunt driving and suffer a slew of penalties under Ontario’s recent changes to the Highway Traffic Act.
A section of the province’s Moving Ontarians More Safely Act (MOMS Act) went into effect on July 1 and it promises harsher penalties for drivers caught driving substantially over the limit.
Someone can be charged with stunt driving if they are going 50km/h or higher above the limit on roads with a posted limit of 80 km/h or higher. The charge means an automatic roadside 30-day licence suspension and vehicle impoundment for 14 days.
If you’re convicted, you’ll lose your license for a minimum of one year and up to three years. That period increases with each subsequent offence: a second conviction is a minimum three to ten-year licence suspension and a third will get you a lifetime suspension.
Other penalties if convicted include a minimum fine of $2000 up to a maximum of $10,000, a jail term of up to six months and six demerit points.
MOMS also targets speeding on roads with a posted limit below 80 km/h. Drivers caught travelling 40 km/h over the speed limit now face stunt driving charges and will suffer the same penalties as those listed above.
Speeding and aggressive driving kill and the province is committed to ensuring that Ontario roads are safe.
