Residents Matter traffic enforcement initiative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, June 25, 2024          11:18 am

(Ottawa) – The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) announces the launch of the Residents Matter (#ResidentsMatter) late-night traffic enforcement initiative.

Starting on Friday, June 21^st, the OPS Residents Matter Enforcement Teams (RMET), composed of OPS frontline and Traffic Unit officers, began deploying to late-night high-complaint locations in the Barrhaven area.

RMET officers will be taking a zero-tolerance approach to all speed, impaired driving, unnecessary noise and related dangerous and disruptive driving behaviour on city streets and roadways.

During Residents Matter’s first night on Friday, June 21^st, 94 provincial offence notices were issued, among them:

• 28 speeding
• 12 no muffler or improper mufflers
• 9 obstructed licence plates
• 10 invalid permits
• 10 failure to display two licence plates
• 2 unlicensed drivers

In addition, during a 6-hour period, seven drivers were issued Court Summons for stunt driving/street racing. These include:

• 114km/h in 60km/h zone – Greenbank Rd / Malvern Dr
• 145km/h in 80km/h zone – Woodroffe Ave / Fallowfield Rd
• 121km/h in 80km/h zone – Strandherd Dr / Madrid Ave
• 154km/h in 80km/h zone – Woodroffe Ave / Grenfell Cres
• Greenbank Rd / West Hunt Club Rd – a member of the public called police to report 3 vehicles racing. Police intercepted them and each driver was charged

These drivers also had their vehicles seized/impounded for 14 days, their licences suspended for 30 days, and each face a minimum fine of $2000 and a further minimum 1-year driver’s licence suspension, upon conviction.

Additionally, one driver was given a 3-day licence suspension after registering an ‘alert’ on a roadside alcohol screening device.

“The negative impact of high-risk, disruptive behaviour on our city streets cannot be understated. Residents have spoken, and we’ve been listening; in forming the Residents Matter Enforcement Team (RMET), our intention is to provide a robust enforcement presence in the evening hours throughout the summer,” said Sergeant Craig Roberts, OPS District Traffic Manager.

Do you have any information about a late-night traffic-related problem location? Traffic complaints can be filed online at: ottawapolice.ca/report. It only takes a few minutes, and the data collected assists us in allocation enforcement resources.

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Through the Community Safety Data portal data.ottawapolice.ca, members of the public can view, download, and interact with data released by the Ottawa Police Service.

CONTACT:

Media Relations Section

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366