'We will crush your car,' Bryant warns racers

[Doug P]

What happened was wrong and those kids should be in for some big changes with all the charges but I have not seen anything about the cars involved.

They could have been stock so how does this guy make the leap that anyone modifying a car is a street racer and they will take your car RIGHT AT THE SHOP before you event drive it.

Balance or probabilites? WTF? Innocent until proven guilty?


http://www.thestar.com/News/article/227464

Quote:

Likening speed shops that make street racers to illegal drug labs and bomb factories, Attorney General Michael Bryant is warning the cars could be seized before they even hit the roads.

Bryant threw down the gauntlet at street racers today in the wake of Monday’s Highway 400 accident, allegedly caused by racing, in which truck driver David Virgoe was killed.

“Somebody who’s putting together a … car for street racing might as well be putting together an illegal narcotic or putting together an explosive,” the attorney general told reporters.

“What I would say to anybody who is engaging in the illegal act of street racing is, we don’t need to wait until that car hits the road fully loaded,” said Bryant.

The attorney general pointed out that Ottawa and Queen’s Park have worked together to tighten up laws designed to curb street racing.

“We can seize that car if we have information from police and, just on the balance of probabilities, if we can establish that that car is being used for the unlawful purpose of street racing, we will seize it and you will never see it again,” he said.

“We will crush your car. We will crush the parts. You will never see it again.”

While Bryant declined to discuss details of Virgoe’s death or the case of three men charged in connection with it, he noted that Ontario prosecutors are making use of new provisions in the Criminal Code for street-racing offences."

[Keith-02Accord]

He will be receiving a very strongly worded letter with a copy to my MP and a copy to the Minister of Transportation.

On top of that, I believe CASC-OR should be making a reply to his comments.

[Nels996]

It' the same political ignorance when it comes to street racing or modified cars. Unfortunately it won't change. I've heard it for years. They always target the modified cars. What about the factory built performance cars? Also just about any car manufactured is capable of traveling 150kph +. Who's to say that the cars involved in the incident were modified.

Nels

[rpr]

Interesting. What about the people I see daily who are so busy gabbing on the phone that they run into curbs, drift into the wrong lane, never signal, and run red lights? I would argue they are as dangerous as street racers. Yet I don't see any hue and cry from the media over that.

[tanney]

Why, don't you know that anyone with a modified vehicle is a street racer? If you have decals on your car your a street racer.... If you have a seat belt harness installed you are a street racer.... If you have bling, your a street racer.... If you have pedal covers, your a street racer.... If you are driving your mothers minivan, your a street racer.... Everyone knows this, what's the problem?!?!?

Originally Posted by Keith-02Accord

He will be receiving a very strongly worded letter with a copy to my MP and a copy to the Minister of Transportation.

On top of that, I believe CASC-OR should be making a reply to his comments.

[miataboi]

While this is just a politicalization / public reaction to the horriffic accident / tradgedy on the 400... these facts remain:

A stock car can still do 200+ km/h

Provincial offences are all Guilty until you prove yourself innocent... look at the HTA...

He'd have one hell of a lawsuit if he destroyed private property without evidence of an offence taking place...

Therefore... until new legislation comes out re: aftermarket parts and lagality in Ontario... it's largely scare tactics and politics.

They can charge you with whatever they want... but like everything... it's all in how it's enforced.

Honestly... regardless of what your car looks like on the roads... as long as you don't drive like an a-hole or speed excessively... I think you're generally ok... and that's what the laws are INTENDED for anyhow..

Still... some "constructive feedback" and education about OUR sport would be a good thing... CASC... let's engage them and help educate!

[J.C.]

Originally Posted by rpr

Interesting. What about .... Yet I don't see any hue and cry from the media over that.

That does not sell papers. Its all about the money and politics. Ask yourself what new expenditures have been created from all this hype and what other concerns society has that are now being overlooked.

[miataboi]

to save lives... all you need to focus on, is seatbelts, drinking and driving and cell-phones.

[FastFox]

and driving training....not testing but actual hands on training.

[Steve Moore]

Sorry to disagree guys, but speed enforcement is our biggest problem out there right now. Too many people just driving too damn fast, I have people passing me in a fully marked suburban doing 20-30 km/h over every day. More marked police cruisers on patrol on our highways, higher fines and automatic suspensions for anyone going more than 130km/h (regardless of what they drive! Tuner,Luxury,Sports,Pickup,SUV, treat them all the same baised on the driver's actions).

[Keith-02Accord]

Steve...exactly..."regardless of what they drive". Bryant specifically said modified cars are street racers.

But secondly...120-130 on the 400 series highways is not unsafe so long as that is the traffic flow.

In fact..I believe these highways were engineered in the 70's for a speed limit of 130km/hr.

[Rampant WS6]

Originally Posted by Steve Moore

Sorry to disagree guys, but speed enforcement is our biggest problem out there right now. Too many people just driving too damn fast, I have people passing me in a fully marked suburban doing 20-30 km/h over every day. More marked police cruisers on patrol on our highways, higher fines and automatic suspensions for anyone going more than 130km/h (regardless of what they drive! Tuner,Luxury,Sports,Pickup,SUV, treat them all the same baised on the driver's actions).

I agree that the speeds are crazy, minivans blow by me a at 140-150 all the time. I admitt I cruise at 110-115 on the 400 series typically in my car and it has the ability to go 300+. I have no need to go any faster till I'm at a track, if I am late, plan it better next time. Maybe I'm getting old or just smarter but I think promoting safe use of our cars is the best approach. Encourage people that want to go fast to do it at an appropriate legal venue.

The speed shop stuff is a joke, you can buy 200mph cars at the dealer. 400-500+ hp is not just exotics anymore. SUV's have 350-400 now. The cheapest cars can double the speed limit now. You control your own right foot.

[P90Puma]

Originally Posted by Keith-02Accord

Steve...exactly..."regardless of what they drive". Bryant specifically said modified cars are street racers.

But secondly...120-130 on the 400 series highways is not unsafe so long as that is the traffic flow.

In fact..I believe these highways were engineered in the 70's for a speed limit of 130km/hr.

I don't think the officer would agree with you.

I disagree with Steve that speeding is the major issue on today's motorways, because even though I do follow the limits generally, I think they could be somewhat higher (But then again with drivers as bad as they are now, do I really want some of these people going even faster?)

IMHO I think speeding is the easiest issue for the police to actually enforce, vs tailgating and otherwise dangerous driving. Which are the more dangerous issues on the road but not exactly easy to catch and prosecute.

[Steve Moore]

Keith, considering the amount of traffic on these highways, the average driver skill and the average maintenance on these cars and roads I have to strongly disagree with you. There is absolutely no reason to be traveling above the posted speed limit on our highways, after all thats why we have one. Sure its a given everyone wants to go 110-120, but theres where we are getting into trouble. Now throw in drivers weaving through at anywhere from 130-180km/h and maybe a few transport trucks carrying thousands of pounds of cargo,its a recipe for disaster.

Ive been to too many of these high speed collisions, and SPEED is ALWAYS the greatest factor in determining if those involved will survive. Our highways are not like our race tracks or solo lots where those here on this forum enjoy our vehicles legally and safely. Out there, there are no marshalls, no fire crew on standby, no higher level of driver ability, no vehicle safety equipment.

Just my opinion, but an educated one based on 19yrs of watching from both sides of the fence.

[tanney]

Originally Posted by Keith-02Accord

In fact..I believe these highways were engineered in the 70's for a speed limit of 130km/hr.

I was told once that the 401 was designed to drive 80 mph in a car built in the 50s. The speed limit was 70mph but was reduce to 100kph in 1975 or 76 to combat the 70's fuel crisis.

I also disagree that speed is the problem. Without a doubt the biggest issue is improper driver training and TOO MANY DISTRACTIONS (DVD players, cell phones, eating, applying makeup, reading the newpaper etc.).

I was pacing some idiot on the QEW on my way back from Bronte GO on Sunday. He was scooping a Ice Capicino (sp). He was holding the cup with one hand and spooning it in his mouth with the other. Now someone tell me he was in control of his vehicle......... All the way from Oakville to Toronto.