Police have seized 24 vehicles near Trinity Commons Mall in Brampton, Ont., marking the latest crackdown on street racing and related criminal activity in the area.
Peel Regional Police Cst. Tyler Bell-Morena made the announcement in an
Oct. 25 video posted on the X platform, stating that police are addressing dangerous driving in the parking lot and surrounding area of the shopping centre at Highway 410 and Bovaird Drive in Brampton.
“We’ve heard you loud and clear. You’re fed up with the lawlessness that’s going on there, the dangerous driving, the large nuisance gatherings, the loud exhausts, and, of course, all the inherent safety concerns that come with all of that,” he said.
“We’re pretty fed up with it, too. You shouldn’t have to deal with it, and we’re doing our best to put it to an end.”
Peel police recently launched an enforcement blitz across Brampton and the neighbouring city of Mississauga to address the issue.
During the Labour Day weekend, police focused their efforts on problematic street racing and stunt driving in Ridgeway Plaza, a commercial area in Mississauga, located near Hwy 403 and Hwy 407. The police operation resulted in
nearly 250 driving-related charges and the seizure of 14 vehicles. A
subsequent operation the following week brought the number of driving-related charges to nearly 280.
After the most recent operation in October, Bell-Morena stated that the total number of provincial charges laid has now reached 332, including offences related to speeding, excessive noise, and alcohol offences such as public intoxication and impaired driving.
Peel Regional Police have long expressed serious concerns about road safety in the community. In the first half of this year alone, there were more than 20,000 driving-related charges issued by police, according to a report prepared for Brampton City Council this past summer. The offences included more than 4,200 charges for speeding, over 400 for careless driving, more than 1,300 for mufflers causing unnecessary noise, and over 900 for stunt driving and racing.
In response, Peel police launched Project E.R.A.S.E. (Eliminating Racing Activities on Streets Everywhere) in May, a strategic enforcement initiative that addresses poor and aggressive driving behaviour through education and targeted enforcement.
“To ensure the utmost safety on our roads, Peel Regional Police and our other partners will have zero tolerance for dangerous driving behaviours and street racing activities,” the force said in a press release announcing the initiative.
Brampton City Council has
introduced new fines for driving offences ranging from $800 to $2,000 to help police combat illegal car racing. Under the
updated bylaw, individuals causing a public nuisance with a motor vehicle could face fines between $800 and $1,200. Those organizing “nuisance” parties related to motor vehicle gatherings, rallies, or racing may incur a $1,000 fine for the first offence and up to $2,000 for subsequent violations.
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