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It was a busy day for one Ontario Provincial Police officer on Friday, January 3, 2020 as he handed out 30 speeding tickets including five for stunt driving on Highway 401.
OPP Highway Safety Division Constable Chad Laperle started his day shortly after 7 a.m. in the area of Highway 401 at the Wesleyville overpass in the Municipality of Port Hope.
By the end of the day, shortly before 3 p.m. 30 drivers were given tickets for speeding. Five of those drivers were charged with Stunt Driving with speeds over 150 k.p.h. just in the area between Wesleyville Road and Toronto Road on Highway 401.
Laperle said there was commuting traffic, but because of the Christmas break there wasn’t the volume of vehicles on the highway.
But the officer said there were still “multiple tickets” given before 10:30 a.m. including one driver charged with Stunt Driving.
As it was a Friday, eastbound traffic started to pick up in the afternoon – and so did the speeding.
Two vehicles were travelling upwards of 160 k.p.h. were both pulled over. Both driver’s had their license seized for seven days and their vehicles impounded for seven days.
Today’s Northumberland was with Laperle for part of the day. While Laperle was writing up a ticket with emergency lights activated, a vehicle failed to move over and passed by Laperle’s cruiser.
Another driver tried the same, but wasn’t so lucky as another OPP officer witnessed him fail to move over and pulled the vehicle over just ahead of Laperle’s.
“When you can see approximately two kilometres behind us. If you’re looking forward, driving defensively, you have plenty of time to move over to the other lane.”
Some of the people charged with Stunt Driving were driving rental vehicles. Along with impound, towing fees, they’re looking at the cost of the rental car for the week.
Being a veteran police officer, Laperle has heard all the excuses.
“Most people just say they didn’t realize they were going that fast, or they were trying to get around another car, which is not necessary because you’re on a controlled access highway where everyone is going the same way.”
Given that he’s issued countless charges of Stunt Driving, Laperle said, “a lot of people think you’re going to reduce it, and give them a warning. They don’t want to lose their car. So it shows you that people know what the law is – just for some reason they aren’t following it.”
Two people from New York were driving a rental car when they were pulled over after Laperle clocked the vehicle at 160 kph.
The couple told Today’s Northumberland they were on their way to Quebec when they were pulled over.
The driver who had his license seized for seven days and the rental car impounded for seven days admitted what police were doing was right.
“I think it’s good,” said the driver who asked his name not be used.
“It shows that cops are being safe.”
Although the driver was clocked at 160 k.p.h. he said, “truthfully it didn’t feel like that for me.” “We didn’t really see to many signs for speed and we were following a group of cars.”
The couple were driven to the train station in Cobourg where they were hoping to continue their trip.
The rental car was impounded for seven days, his license seized for seven days and he’ll be making another trip to Ontario for court.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
