Street racing charges in Peel Region up 154% in 2 years, police say
Police in GTA launched annual campaign to combat street racing, car rallies on Tuesday
Peel police have seen a 154 per cent spike in charges related to street racing from 2022 to 2024, according to a news release Tuesday.
In the last two weeks alone, police have seized 32 vehicles and laid more than 400 charges, including 26 related to street racing, the release said.
"Street racing puts innocent lives at risk. We're tired of hearing about tragedies of lives taken too soon because of a reckless act," Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said at a news conference on Tuesday.
Police launched their annual enforcement campaign on Tuesday to address street racing, stunt driving and illegal car rallies across the Greater Toronto Area.
The campaign, called Project Erase, is a joint initiative including police services in Toronto, Hamilton, York and Halton regions, as well as the Ontario Provincial Police.
Illegal car rallies involve organized groups of drivers who engage in actions such as excessive noise, speeding and stunt driving, as well as blocking or impeding motor vehicle or pedestrian traffic, said York police Insp. Kelly Chester.
"These stunts are often performed in front of large groups of onlookers who stand far too close to the dangerous activities taking place, just to try and capture the next viral video for social media," Chester said.
"They are placing themselves in harm's way and are risking serious injury or worse."
Brampton joined Vaughan in tightening bylaws last year
Calls for service in York Region related to street racing went down 10 per cent from 2023 to 2024, Chester said.
Vaughan became one of the first cities in Ontario to ban unauthorized car rallies in April 2024, according to a city news release at the time.
Mississauga and Brampton have since enacted similar bylaws, Peel police Deputy Chief Marc Andrews said. He said he is confident the cities will "see the same dramatic decrease in calls for service."
People in Brampton can be fined up to $10,000 for attending or participating in an illegal car rally, Coun. Rowena Santos said. These fines were increased in October.
She said there are a number of hotspots in Brampton for stunt driving, including Trinity Common Mall and community centre parking lots. Most recently, Santos said she received a complaint from a resident who caught a motorcyclist driving doughnuts inside a pickleball court.
Meanwhile, Toronto police laid 1,134 charges related to stunt driving in 2024, Acting Supt. Matt Moyer said.
In the province overall, there were around 100 fatal crashes where speed was the main casual factor, OPP Insp. Peter Shouldice said.
Police appeal to youth, community members
Moyer encouraged community members to report dangerous driving and illegal street racing to police at Tuesday's news conference.
"We need the public to be side by side with us and partners in this," he said.
Andrews also appealed to young drivers to speak up against stunt driving and to be "the voice of reason" among their peers.
"Dangerous driving may feel thrilling in the moment, but the consequences can last a lifetime," he said.
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With files from Dale Manucdoc