85-year-old charged with street racing

[automotivebreath]

An 85-year-old Canadian man has become the oldest person in the country
to be charged with street racing after being caught at 100 mph (161km/h)
in a 55 mph (88km/h) zone.

85-year-old-arrested-for-street-racing/

[Dusty]

Thats awesome did he win. David there is hope for you yet

[automotivebreath]

Originally Posted by Dusty

Thats awesome did he win...

It was a lose lose lose situation, except for the smile - priceless.

"When finally pulled over several kilometres later the geriatric gentleman could
only say “God damn” at being told his radar-detected speed and offered a trip
to the bank as his only explanation for the escapade"

"In accordance with Canada’s strict new street racing legislation he was fined,
had his license revoked and his vehicle impounded. So much for old drivers
being safe drivers!"

[Brian P]

That's not a "Canada" law, it's an "Ontario" law. Took effect 30 Sept 2007. Something like 2300 people have been charged since then. The vast majority are not "street racers" per se - but simply regular people who got caught doing more-or-less normal things in the wrong places. Ontario's speed limits are too low at the best of times, and often absurdly too low.

Remains to be seen how this is going to stand up in court. Roadside justice seems unconstitutional, but the courts have accepted strange things before on the grounds of "public safety".

I hope the courts toss the whole thing. Not that I condone irresponsible driving ... but for various reasons, I trust the police no more than I trust any other bureaucrats and so-called public servants. The whole "street racing" media frenzy was just that.

[shrinker]

this street racing law frenzy is active in Australia too. Funny how everyone gets on some ones band wagon. They do the same things, confiscate, crush the cars all that stuff. BUT they wont build racing facilities for people do what they want to do so we all revolt.

[rskrause]

But if it saves one child.......................................

Semiseriously: while I do advocate keeping it to the track, the Ontario law is retarded and has nothing to do with street racing. It is basically Draconian penalties for speeding. For more than 50km/h (31mph) over the maximum fine is up to $10,000, an immediate 7-day suspended license, and vehicle impoundment. No other car needs to be involved, so it has little to do with "racing". "Street racing" per se can be very dangerous, or hardly dangerous at all. The punishment should fit the "crime". Typical feelgood political grandstanding.

Richard

[seattle smitty]

WHICH child . . . ?

(I'm in a noisy library over-run by untrained children, some attended, some feral).

[BlackCat13]

Is that a 59 Olds or Buick?

[Blownoiler]

Maybe he couldn't get a focus on the speedo, he looks like he's on valium, seriously though, this is a great revenue raiser for the government . If the lawmakers were serious about removing speedsters from the public roads then we would have race tracks and burnout pads on the outskirts of every major city, clearly the control freaks don't want to see anyone enjoying themselves, to quote Malcolm Fraser, an ex Australian prime minister " Life wasn't meant to be easy".......it was the only promise that he kept!!!!!

[Brian P]

This legislation is proving NOT to be a revenue raiser for the government (but certainly is for the towing companies and for lawyers). The conviction rate is low, and considering the total number charged to date, the number that have actually been brought to court is low. Reason: everyone charged that has at least one operational brain cell, hires lawyers and fights tooth and nail, and in many cases the lawyers are playing games to postpone the court dates, hoping that the legislation will be found unconstitutional (because it is). There are apparently at least two constitutional challenges, on different grounds, to this.

There are ample reports that the police have been abusing their power under this legislation. IF the lawyers in those constitutional cases do a good job, I hope that this legislation will be massively UNprofitable for the government ... because I hope the courts order complete repayment of all costs to each and every individual that has been affected by this unconstitutional legislation. Don't know if it will happen, but we can only hope.

I don't advocate "street racing" but I also don't advocate giving the police carte-blanche.