Officers target stunt driving and unsafe behaviour during #ResidentsMatter enforcement initiative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sunday, May 10, 2026    10:32 a.m. 

(Ottawa)—On Friday, May 8, members of the Ottawa Police Service Road Safety Unit (RSU), Towed Vehicles Section, and West District Traffic conducted targeted enforcement across all four police districts as part of the ongoing #ResidentsMatter initiative focused on stunt driving, street racing, and unsafe vehicle activity.

Officers proactively monitored several locations across the city throughout the evening. While no large-scale gathering materialized, officers observed smaller groups of vehicles at various locations, with the largest gathering involving approximately 30 to 40 vehicles in a parking lot near Strandherd Drive and Greenbank Road.

Throughout the operation, officers laid 23 Provincial Offence Notices and 10 Part III summonses for offences related to high-risk driving behaviour and unsafe vehicle operation. Charges included speeding, red light violations, unnecessary noise, improper tires, and seatbelt-related offences.

Four vehicles were impounded, and four drivers were charged with stunt driving.

One of the most concerning incidents involved a 17-year-old driver operating a rented U-Haul cube van on Prince of Wales Drive near Maplehill Way. Officers discovered 12 additional teens, ranging in age from 17 to 18 years old, riding unsecured in the cargo area of the truck, with some seated on a sofa. Three additional occupants were seated in the front of the vehicle, including one passenger occupying position in vehicle's cabin without a seatbelt (no seat).

The driver was charged with stunt driving under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act for carrying passengers in the cargo area of the vehicle. Their driver’s licence was suspended for 30 days, and the vehicle was impounded for 14 days.

Additional notable enforcement included:

• a 30-year-old driver charged with stunt driving after travelling 140 km/h in a 70 km/h zone on Strandherd Drive at Andora Avenue;
• A 20-year-old G2 licensed driver charged with stunt driving after travelling 136 km/h in a 80 km/h zone on West Hunt Club Road at Woodroffe Avenue;
• A 18-year-old driver charged with stunt driving after travelling 117 km/h in a 70 km/h zone on Strandherd Drive at Dealership Drive; 
• a suspended driver identified through Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology on Fallowfield Road at Larkin Drive.

These enforcement initiatives are about keeping people safe and preventing dangerous driving behaviours before someone gets seriously hurt. Whether it’s excessive speed, street racing, or unsafe vehicle use, these behaviours put drivers, passengers, and the public at significant risk.

The Ottawa Police Service reminds drivers that stunt driving and street racing carry serious consequences, including immediate roadside licence suspensions, vehicle impoundments, significant fines, and potential court appearances.

Residents are encouraged to report dangerous driving behaviour to police when it is safe to do so.

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