Truck driver's licence suspended after he speeds past safety blitz

Source: Northumberland Today

POLICE: Man passed school zone at twice the speed limit

ONTARIO - A lead-footed driver's pickup was towed after he sped through a school zone at more than double the speed limit past a fully marked parked police cruiser and eight other enforcement vehicles involved in a safety blitz Thursday.

Cobourg Police took part in the blitz along with the Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Environment.

"Public safety is our No. 1 goal," Cobourg Constable Mike Richardson said.

Car carriers, dump trucks, pickup trucks, trailers and all makes of vehicles were directed to the parking lot on D'Arcy Street by the Cobourg soccer fields.

Between 7:30 a. m. and 2:30 p. m., 45 motor vehicle inspections took place, resulting in 27 charges under the Highway Traffic Act and the Environmental Protection Act.

Five vehicles were towed, having been deemed unsafe for the road. Nine commercial motor vehicle stops were made.

While police were monitoring traffic, Richardson said, a driver heading south in a pickup truck caught the officers' attention.

"I was going to wave it in for an inspection," Richardson said.

The driver "decided to speed and it did pass a motor vehicle at a very high rate of speed...."

Richardson said the truck reached a speed "well over 100 km/h in a posted 50 zone" and rough a school zone on D'Arcy Street doing well in excess of 100 km/h.

Three police cruisers blocked the driver in at the intersection of D'Arcy and King.

Richardson said he was amazed the driver didn't notice any of the numerous MTO and MOE vehicles, police cruisers or a fully marked OPP cruiser sitting on the side of the road as he sped past.

"It's definitely careless, definitely disrespect for any pedestrian in the area," Richardson said.

The driver is charged with speeding and stunt driving. The vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days.

The driver's licence was suspended, and the offence carries a minimum fine of $2,000.

As the tow truck hauled away the vehicle, Richardson noticed an older model pickup truck that was eventually pulled over going north on D'Arcy Street. Three Cobourg District Collegiate Institute East high school students were heading to a restaurant for lunch when Richardson directed the vehicle be pulled in for a inspection.

The 17-year-old driver said he was driving his mother's truck.

Officials from the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Transportation inspected the vehicle and deemed it unsafe for the road.

"I have a hole in the floor and my emergency brake cable does not work," the teen said. "I can't really do a whole lot about it. It's unsafe."

While waiting for the paperwork from the officers, the youth commented, "I'll be walking now, I guess."

Although he wasn't sure what his mother would think, he said, "she probably won't be to happy."