Stunt-driving numbers jump dramatically in Waterloo region in 2018

If it feels like there is an increase in the number of stunt drivers being caught in the Waterloo region, it’s probably because there is.

In fact, the increase in the numbers even surprises police officers like Sgt. Jeff Cooper.

READ MORE: Waterloo police catch 3 suspected ‘stunt drivers’ over weekend

In 2017, police laid stunt-driving charges 59 times over the course of the year.

Up until July 16, police laid 49 stunt-driving charges, nearly double (29) that were laid over the same timeframe in 2017.

“I’m surprised the number got this high,” Cooper said.

Cooper said part of the reason for the increase could be in part to an increased focus on catching stunt drivers.

“We’re definitely out there looking for more of these high-flying offences,” he said.

READ MORE: Police catch a host of stunt drivers across Waterloo Region

Over the past week, there were three charges laid to drivers who were driving at least 50 km/h above the speed limit.

While that appears to be the common offence, there are a wide variety of offences that fall under the umbrella of stunt driving, according to the Highway Traffic Act.

The list includes racing, burnouts, drifting around corners, not having all of your wheels touching the ground and blocking someone from passing.

One charge Ontario drivers may not be aware of includes gunning your car through a green light while turning in an attempt to get through an intersection before a driver who is headed straight.

Another more obscure charge would be stowing a passenger away in your trunk.

Cooper warns that is a recipe for disaster in the event you were rear-ended by another vehicle.

Perhaps the most obscure offence would be driving a vehicle while the driver is not in the driver’s seat.

If you look on the Waterloo police Twitter page, you will see a host of different images of drivers having their cars impounded after being caught stunt driving, or an image of the car’s speed with the radar gun and the offending vehicle.

“Mainly, it provides a visual reminder of what can happen if you get caught stunt driving,” Waterloo police spokesperson Cherri Greeno explained.

She said police are not looking to embarrass anyone but rather make someone aware of the consequences. That is why licence plates are blurred in the images before being posted.

Cooper says that the consequences of stunt driving should be another eyeopener for drivers which should be considered before they decide to go stunt driving.

“It’s an expensive proposition,” he explained, noting that the charge “goes on your abstract.”

“Insurance companies will have access to the info.”

Once someone is caught stunt driving, their car is impounded and the driver’s licence will be suspended for seven days. They will also receive a summons to appear at some point in the near future.

So in addition to a likely rise in your car insurance rate, Cooper says a driver will also have to pay to have their car towed, a seven-day storage bill and a fee to get their licence reinstated.

And then there will be whatever fines they incur after answering the summons.