‘High miler’: It’s another week on the roads as police nab speeders, seize guns and take loud vehicles 

Ontario Provincial Police said on Nov. 20 that a driver on their way to a driving test was stopped on the eastbound Highway 401 after they were observed travelling 179 km/h. The driver was charged with stunt driving, say police.

“Speeding puts everyone at risk,” said the OPP in an online post.

Also, in Northumberland, police say no injuries were reported after a tree fell on a passing school bus in Port Hope.

“This morning, a tree decided to test its strength against a passing school bus,” said the provincial police force on Nov. 21. “Everyone on board, kids and the driver, are perfectly fine! The students hopped on another bus and were on their way to a day of learning.”

The Nottawasaga OPP detachment also took another alleged speeder off the roads on Nov. 21 after police say they stopped a vehicle in New Tecumseth travelling 154 km/h in an 80 km/h zone.

An officer was conducting speed enforcement on Highway 89 just before 10:30 a.m. when they stopped a 20-year-old Barrie man. He was charged with drive motor vehicle — perform stunt — excessive speed and speeding 50+ km/h over limit.

The South Georgian Bay OPP detachment also nabbed a “high miler” when an officer stopped a vehicle that was allegedly travelling 188 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on Highway 400 in Tay Township. A 20-year-old man from Sudbury was charged with stunt driving, say police.

Under Ontario law, drivers charged with stunt driving have their licence suspended for 30 days and vehicle impounded for two weeks.

Sometimes, officers also find a few surprises when carrying out traffic stops.

“A ‘routine’ traffic stop by a (Mississauga OPP officer) led to the seizure of a loaded handgun, ammunition, and drugs in Cambridge,” said the provincial police on Nov. 20. A 19-year-old driver from Niagara Falls now faces 12 criminal charges, say police.

Other times, officers must shake their heads when they see what’s driving down the road.

“We traffic officers get asked about certain offences and what constitutes them. Here is an example of an insecure load on the way to the Oshawa waste facility. Yes, there is a trailer under there somewhere,” tweeted Durham police on Nov. 21.

In other cases, officers can hear rule breakers coming down the road before they even see them.

Northumberland OPP “couldn’t miss this vehicle loudly approaching with a muffler issue,” said police in a Nov. 20 tweet showing a Dodge truck loaded onto a tow truck. Over top of the photo, police said, “No insurance. No muffler.”

Police also say the vehicle was uninsured.

“Let’s keep all our roads safe by ensuring your vehicle is road worthy and compliant with the law,” said OPP.