Dozens fined as police target reckless drivers

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This article was published 23/10/2024 (368 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A person clinging to the hood of a vehicle travelling 121 km/h on a Winnipeg street was one of several incidents recorded by police while they targeted “car enthusiasts” for dangerous driving recently.

Aerial footage of a vehicle speeding along the 50-km/h street, identified as Willson Place on the aircraft’s GPS, in an industrial area Aug. 18 was one of four videos police shared Wednesday to demonstrate the reckless acts they’ve seen in and near the city.

“I hope through these videos we’ve educated people that if you’re participating in riding on a car hood or driving 189 km/h on a motorcycle, that’s probably not a good idea,” said Insp. Max Waddell. “Someone is going to seriously get hurt, and hopefully not lose their life.”

A second video the same night showed a motorcycle hitting 189 km/h in a 30-km/h zone — passing people waiting for a bus — on the bus-only Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor near McGillivray Boulevard.

A third clip showed vehicles doing doughnuts around a security vehicle in a parking lot.

The incidents were documented while police focused on a large group of car buffs in a four-month investigation dubbed Project Stunt Driving.

The investigation culminated Sept. 7, when police handed out 65 tickets for traffic or vehicle-related violations, after watching a meet-up of 88 drivers, who were then stopped at a checkpoint just outside Winnipeg.

With the RCMP’s help, WPS used a drone, helicopter and officers from several units to observe drivers in an industrial area on Goldenrod Drive in the Rural Municipality of Rosser.

Five people accused of careless driving were given serious offence notices.

“They have to go before (Manitoba Public Insurance) and prove they’re worthy to maintain their driver’s licences,” said Waddell, the Winnipeg Police Service’s West District commander. “There are going to be very hefty fines attached to all of this.”

Police issued 31 tickets for improper equipment or operation of equipment, nine for failing to display the correct number and type of licence plate, six for noise violations and five for making unnecessary smoke.

Drivers ranged in age from 16 to 49, said Waddell.

The investigation was launched in response to complaints about unsafe driving and excessive vehicle noise.

Waddell said WPS received 37 calls about drivers who were racing, squealing tires or doing other acts in parking lots between May 16 and Sept. 6, reflecting an upward trend.

Most reports were between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., with peaks on Saturdays and Sundays, said police.

Waddell and Coun. Evan Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood), whose office receives complaints about drivers and noise on Portage Avenue, said any problems on Sunday cruise nights are attributed to a small number of drivers.

“We have residents calling daily, and then we have influxes … on the weekends due to our cruise night,” Duncan said at a news conference.

“Let’s make one thing clear. It’s not all cruise night-goers. It’s the idiots that sit in the parking lots along Portage Avenue that are revving their engines, that are ripping down Portage Avenue, that don’t care about anybody but their cars and themselves.”

They are making life “miserable” for residents, he added.

“We’re not after those individuals that are respecting the law and showing up to just meet with their friends, have a good evening and display their cars,” said Waddell.

Road safety advocate Michelle Golebiowski, a classic car club member and motorcycle rider, and Ewald Friesen, CAA Manitoba’s manager of government and community relations, urged drivers to consider the risks of dangerous driving.

“I hope people wake up and realize it’s not worth it,” said Golebiowski. “To be doing it within close proximity of the motoring public or bystanders, it’s not the right avenue or venue, and it’s not the right mentality.”

Friesen said the behaviours described by police are alarming.

“In Manitoba, we’ve had some dangerous driving and stunt driving in the past, but certainly not on this scale,” he said. “The opportunity for injury, or worse, is extremely high with these types of behaviours.”

Winnipeg has recorded 22 fatal collisions this year. It was unclear how many were attributed to dangerous driving.

There were informal discussions in the past about the possibility of a legal racing strip or track. Golebiowski would support one.

“You’ve got a group of people who are going to do it no matter what, and they’re finding places to do it,” she said. “Why not test pilot a venue, track those numbers and see if those behaviours go down?”

Waddell said WPS would not be supportive.

“It would just be the legalities that would be attached, and in the event that something went bad at one of these events, who’s going to be ultimately responsible?” he said.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca