Racing Crackdown

[dillongt]

Racing crackdown ( Stiff penalties for street menaces )

By KATHLEEN HARRIS, OTTAWA BUREAU

OTTAWA -- Hot-rod drivers who use public roadways like racetracks and leave fatalities in their wake could be locked away for life under stiff penalties proposed by the Conservative government.

New legislation tabled yesterday by Justice Minister Vic Toews creates a street-racing offence in the Criminal Code and aims to send a stern message to careless young drivers with a lust for speed.

"Street racing is a serious matter and the time has come to put an end to it," Toews said. "Street racing is not about kids having fun. It's reckless. It's dangerous, and too often, it kills."

Responding to a series of high-profile deaths resulting from street racing, the government's proposed changes would hike the maximum sentences for dangerous driving causing bodily harm and criminal negligence causing bodily harm to 14 years behind bars from the current 10 years. When a death occurs as a result of street racing, the maximum penalty would be life in prison.

A driving prohibition of one to 10 years would also be imposed on a first conviction, while subsequent convictions would net a ban from three years to life.

Toews accepted a petition from students at Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic school in Richmond Hill yesterday.

Their fellow student, Katie Manchester, was left an orphan at age seven when her parents were killed May 27 by street racers on Yonge St.

Katie's parents, Rob Manchester, 46, and wife Lisa, 43, were on their way to celebrate their 17 wedding anniversary.

While dangerous-driving provisions already exist in Canada's Criminal Code, Toews said the specific reference to street racing sends a "clear message" that the reckless behaviour won't be treated lightly.

Although he couldn't provide figures, he believes there's a rise in the number of high-powered cars racing on public highways.

"Certainly in my experience as a prosecutor, a number of years ago we didn't see the frequency of incidents in the same way that we are now, especially in built-up, populated areas," Toews said.

Latest Punishment 4 Street Races

[Bishu]

Oh !!!

[Duncan]

We have similar laws here.

Anyone caught driving at excessive speeds will have their car confiscated for good!! You will NEVER get it back. The confiscated car is then turned into a police squad car, given to some other govt. dept or destroyed.

One guy got caught (Audi S4) travelling at 200+km/h in the 120 zone. Had his car confiscated and within two days the same car was running around as a squad car. The car was only a few weeks old and he still had 36 months to go with the bank and since he no longer had the car the bank was taking legal action against him for the immediate recovery of the loan. He will have to wait two years before he can have another drivers licence and wait 5 years before he could apply for another bank loan. BUMMER HUH???

[GihanFX]

We have similar laws here.

Anyone caught driving at excessive speeds will have their car confiscated for good!! You will NEVER get it back. The confiscated car is then turned into a police squad car, given to some other govt. dept or destroyed.

One guy got caught (Audi S4) travelling at 200+km/h in the 120 zone. Had his car confiscated and within two days the same car was running around as a squad car. The car was only a few weeks old and he still had 36 months to go with the bank and since he no longer had the car the bank was taking legal action against him for the immediate recovery of the loan. He will have to wait two years before he can have another drivers licence and wait 5 years before he could apply for another bank loan. BUMMER HUH???

in that case our government is very gud, cus we dnt have that kind of laws ...

[Overdrive]

We have similar laws here.

Anyone caught driving at excessive speeds will have their car confiscated for good!! You will NEVER get it back. The confiscated car is then turned into a police squad car, given to some other govt. dept or destroyed.

One guy got caught (Audi S4) travelling at 200+km/h in the 120 zone. Had his car confiscated and within two days the same car was running around as a squad car. The car was only a few weeks old and he still had 36 months to go with the bank and since he no longer had the car the bank was taking legal action against him for the immediate recovery of the loan. He will have to wait two years before he can have another drivers licence and wait 5 years before he could apply for another bank loan. BUMMER HUH???

Thats such a pity. Thats being very harsh. But technically can the police acuire some thing that belongs to a thirt party?

BTW duncan OT but i'm sure you have the RS6 there? How do you like the sound of it? I think it simply breathtaking? The other day i was at this AUDI garage and this guy was trying to park his RS6, he was revving the engine unneceserily to attract attention, but it worked!!