Stunt racers face long list of charges from Ottawa police

A pair of drivers face a long list of charges after police spotted them in a stunt-driving duel hitting speeds of up to 170 km/h Thursday on Highway 174 in Ottawa’s east end.

In a release on Friday, the Ottawa Police Service said an enforcement officer spotted two vehicles travelling at 159 km/h in a 100 km/h zone near Tenth Line Road. The vehicles reached speeds of nearly 170 km/h as they approached the Trim Road intersection.

The officer managed to flag them down.

One driver, 31, from the Ottawa area, was a G1 driver without a qualified driver in the vehicle. His licence was already suspended.

He was charged with stunt driving (excessive speed), racing a motor vehicle, using a G1 licence while unaccompanied and driving while under suspension.

The second driver, 18, also from Ottawa, was also charged with stunt driving (excessive speed) and racing a motor vehicle.

Both drivers had their licences suspended for 30 days and their vehicles impounded for 14 days, and they have upcoming court dates when further penalties could be imposed upon conviction.

A conviction of stunt driving carries penalties of $2,000-$10,000, six demerit points, licence suspensions of one to three years and a possible six months in jail.

A conviction of driving while under suspension carries a minimum fine of $1,000.