Street Racing Crackdown in Barrhaven and Other Community Safety Updates

By David Hill, Barrhaven West Councillor

It’s no secret that when the snow melts and road conditions improve, street racing (and accompanying loud exhausts) in communities begins. That’s why, this past summer, the Ottawa Police launched a targeted, late-night traffic enforcement campaign to crack down on dangerous and disruptive drivers.

This campaign, dubbed Residents Matter, deployed officers to high-complaint areas, including Barrhaven, and showed zero tolerance for stunt driving and speeding, unnecessary vehicle noise, intersection violations and other dangerous behaviour.

Since the debut of the initiative on June 21st, officers issued over three-hundred Provincial Offense Notices for traffic violations in Barrhaven and the surrounding communities. Frequently targeted roads included Greenbank, Fallowfield, Strandherd, and Riocan, among other high-complaint areas.

Street racers also paid a price, as twenty-eight charges were laid for stunt driving, meaning the vehicles were impounded and the drivers’ licenses were suspended.

I have thanked Chief Stubbs for the dedicated efforts of our police force, but I also believe that stunt driving penalties do not go far enough for deterrence, especially for repeat offenders.

That’s why I have been consistently advocating at the Ottawa Police Services board meetings and in discussions with the Solicitor General of Ontario for a modernized Highway Traffic Act to include enhanced penalties for stunt driving.

However, traffic violations aren’t the only issue when it comes to community safety. This traffic enforcement initiative is accompanied by a new district policing model that is currently being rolled out.

The primary focus of the District Deployment Model is to serve each community better and work with City Councillors and their community partners, including resident feedback, to resolve issues identified in their Wards. Each area is assigned a district inspector, and I have met the police representative for Barrhaven, Inspector Lemieux, and have had an opportunity to discuss the problematic issues in our community, including vehicle and retail theft, dangerous driving, and other items.

Regarding vehicle thefts, I have also been in contact with key intergovernmental individuals, such as the Associate Minister for Auto Thefts to push for a federal lead on this issue, improved technological screening at the Port of Montreal, and administrative changes such as reVINing.

Safety and security are the foundation of a prosperous community. As part of the annual budget process, I advocated at the last police board meeting about the need to protect the Ottawa Police Budget. Now is not the time to defund the very people that we need to deter violent crime, prevent retail theft, respond to stunt racing and so much more.

Thank you to those who risk their safety to keep us safe. I committed to improving community safety and I will follow through on that.