Police in the GTA say arrests and charges are coming fast and furious as investigators from services cooperate to stamp out stunt driving.
“Illegal street racing and stunt driving have no place on public roadways and highways. That is just simply unacceptable. And it’s dangerous,” said Ontario Provincial Police Det. Insp. Kevin Connor.
From January 2021 to April 2022, OPP said they received 4,106 calls that referenced “street racing” and 72 calls involving collisions linked to illegal racing.
OPP, York Regional Police, Toronto Police and Peel Regional Police have teamed up to send out the message that street racing will not be tolerated.
Investigators are also monitoring social media — where some evenings of racing are organized and promoted.
Weekends are the most common time for such gatherings that often spawn incidents of street racing and stunt driving.
“We have greater numbers but I think that is a reflection of the enforcement that we have been doing,” said York Regional Police Deputy Chief Cecile Hammond.
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They are also encouraging racers, who gather almost weekly via social media events, to take their acts to a closed track where they will not put lives at risk.
Former stunt driver and racer Dov Aronoff said he spent almost two years revving his engines and burning rubber in illegal drag races in Vaughan.
Now he is head of marketing and sales for Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga.
“We want people to come to the track, enjoy their cars to the limits. You can go faster at the track than you can out on the streets. Because a race track is designed for speed,” Aronoff said while standing in front of his wife’s modified Toyota.
Police invited some track operators to their announcement about enforcement, in order to encourage racers to shift scenes.
“Even though it’s going to cost to you race lawfully, it’s going to cost you a lot less than if you do it the other way and go on the streets, get arrested, get your car seized, get charged,” said Deputy Chief Hammond.
Their combined investigation into street racing continues.
And police are asking anyone with tips to come forward.
“To the car enthusiast and the modified vehicle community — please explore other options. Take it to the track,” said Det. Insp. Connor.
Deputy Chief Hammond said the risky behaviour on public streets can be deadly .
“Lives are at stake and quite often what doesn’t get talked about is the devastating effects the families have to face after the fact,” Hammond said.
“Those families are left with a lifetime of pain.”
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