Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has been receiving an increased number of complaints about speeding locally, especially on roadways that have a posted speed limit of 50 km/h.
Traffic sergeant Ray Magnan says that police have been fielding speeding complaints on several straight stretches of road, including Black Road, Fourth Line and Base Line Road. There have also been complaints about speeding on streets in the middle of the city, including Wilson Street and Second Line.
“There’s been an increase of concern amongst citizens, calling into us and saying there’s more speeding going on,” Magnan told SooToday Friday.
Sault Police is reminding motorists that stunt driving regulations under the Highway Traffic Act have changed as of July 1. Stunt driving now includes driving 40 kilometres per hour over any posted limit below 80 kilometres per hour.
First time convictions for stunt driving may now include:
- Minimum fine of $2,000 to a maximum of $10,000
- Jail term of up to six months
- Six demerit points
- Driver’s licence suspension of at least one year and up to three years
- Mandatory driver education training
Motorists charged with stunt driving will have their vehicle immediately impounded for 14 days. Sault Police say the average fee to have a vehicle towed and impounded for 14 days is $1,400.
Magnan says the amendment to stunt driving laws suggests that speeding and other forms of stunt driving are becoming more prevalent across Ontario.
“In fact, their changing it goes to show that the measure they’ve taken with the 50 over is not working,” he said. “There’s still a lot of speeding going on.”
Police say that several vehicles have been speeding excessively on the straight stretch of Black Road north of Second Line, where there is a posted speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour.
“We had several vehicles in excess of 100 kilometres per hour. One officer got two vehicles at the same time stunt driving - 126 [kilometres per hour] and 139 [kilometres per hour],” said Magnan. “So that’s the kinds of things we’re seeing, which worries us, obviously.”
Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Speed says that about 95 per cent of all marked cruisers are equipped with both moving and stationary radar. A number of police motorcycles are also equipped with the same technology.
Magnan says that during peak times, extra officers are assigned to carry out speed enforcement with radar in “problem areas.”
“Because these complaints are increasing, they’re going to see us do more enforcement,” Magnan said.
Sault Police say that school areas with posted limits of 40 kilometres per hour will be targeted by police this fall.
“You’re doing anything over 80, you could lose your vehicle for two weeks and possibly a 30-day licence suspension as well - not to mention the sanctions that come into play once you’re convicted, which could be a minimum $1,000 fine, and on multiple offences, even jail time,” said Magnan. “We just want everybody to control their speed, basically.”