Latest news with #ProjectERASE
Toronto Star
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Toronto Star
Thousands of charges laid in Peel high-risking driving task force operation
An annual campaign, Project ERASE led to 1,230 driving-related charges in 2023 and more than 850 provincial offenses notices in 2024, a Peel police spokesperson said. R.J. Johnston/ Toronto Star file photo flag wire: false flag sponsored: false article_type: : sWebsitePrimaryPublication : publications/toronto_star bHasMigratedAvatar : false :
CTV News
21-07-2025
- CTV News
Peel police lay more than 2,100 charges in months-long street racing crackdown
More than 100 people were arrested and over 2,000 charges laid for street racing and other high-risk driving behaviours as part of a months-long enforcement project by Peel police. More than 100 people have been arrested and more than 2,000 charges laid for street racing and other high-risk driving behaviours during a months-long enforcement project by Peel police. In a news release, Peel Regional Police said officers from multiple jurisdictions targeted 'hotspot' locations across the GTA between May and June 2025 as part of their annual Project ERASE. They said they investigated 684 vehicles and seized nearly 100, and eventually laid more than 2,100 charges including 86 for stunt driving and 125 for unnecessary noise. More than 130 individuals were arrested. 'Street racing is illegal and puts lives at risk,' Deputy Police Chief Marc Andrews said in the release. 'Through initiatives like Project ERASE, Peel Regional Police are committed to curbing dangerous driving behaviours that threaten the safety of our roads.' Investigators said in one incident, which happened on May 17, officers charged a driver with stunt driving after they were caught travelling 209 kms/hr. peel dangerous driving Peel police said officers charged a driver with stunt driving after they were caught travelling 209 km/hr on May 17. Another incident saw two vehicles collide on May 18 when the driver of a silver vehicle ran a red light and hit a pickup truck, causing it flip on its roof. The driver of the silver vehicle was charged with dangerous operation, stunt driving, and racing a motor vehicle. Police said both of the vehicles were present at a street racing event prior to the collision. 'Our officers remain vigilant around the clock and will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to street racing and aggressive driving,' Andrews said. OPP also cracking down on dangerous driving Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) also shared the results of their latest safe driving campaign on Monday. In a post on social media, OPP said their officers laid more than 930 charges for dangerous driving behaviours between July 13 and 19. Nineteen commercial motor vehicles were also taken off the road for various violations. The OPP said the number one offence for both commercial and non-commercial vehicle drivers during the week was speeding.
Hamilton Spectator
14-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
GTA, Hamilton police cracking down on street racing and ‘takeover events' with Project ERASE
Peel Regional Police in conjunction with other police forces announced the launch of the annual Project ERASE, which targets street racing and 'takeover events' across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Eliminating Racing Activities on Streets Everywhere is a multi-jurisdictional initiative that includes the Peel, Halton, York, Toronto, Hamilton police services and the Ontario Provincial Police. The launch event was hosted by Peel police at Chinguacousy Park in Brampton and included representatives from all the police forces involved. 'All of us here today stand with one goal — to raise awareness about the real dangers of street racing and aggressive driving. Excessive speed continues to be the leading contributor to fatal collisions in the GTA. It's precisely the reason why an initiative like Project ERASE was created by police services across Ontario,' Peel police deputy chief Marc Andrews told reporters at the news conference. According to a Peel police news release, the month-long enforcement campaign and crackdown will focus on 'high-visibility, strategic operations to address street racing, stunt driving and illegal car rallies across the region' and will concentrate on 'hot spots.' Andrews added that since 2022, Peel police have seen a 154 per cent increase in street racing charges, up from just over 800 in 2022 to just over 2,100 in 2024. 'This sharp rise is a clear and urgent signal. In the past two weeks alone, (Peel police) have seized 32 vehicles and laid more than 400 charges, including almost 30 related to stunt driving,' Andrews said. In Ontario, police can lay stunt driving charges for drivers exceeding the speed limits by 50 kilometres per hour or more, as well as street racing between two or more drivers appearing to be competing and other dangerous behaviours such as performing 'doughnuts' in parking lots or driving aggressively on highways. Penalties can include a 30-day licence suspension and a 14-day vehicle impoundment, and can carry fines of up to $10,000 and six demerit points or up to six months in jail if convicted. 'Lately we have seen a growing trend of illegal car rallies and takeover events in parking lots, shopping plazas and residential neighbourhoods,' Andrews said. He told the Brampton Guardian that street racing and takeover events had been on the decline leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic but have regained in popularity since. He also reminded those who attend such events in Peel Region that nuisance gathering bylaws in both Brampton and Mississauga mean both participants and spectators can face up to an $800 fine for a first-time offence. 'If you're caught, you will be fined,' Andrews said. 'We will be there. We will be watching, and we will be enforcing all applicable legislation in conjunction with bylaw officers to keep our streets safe.' Andrews added that similar legislation is in effect in other jurisdictions taking part in the project. Toronto Police acting superintendent Matt Moyer, who also spoke at the launch, said Toronto police have responded to 182 stunt driving calls so far in 2025 and have laid 229 stunt driving charges. In 2024, he said Toronto police laid 1,134 charges for stunt driving. 'That's astonishing and unacceptable. The message is not quite getting there. We laid a total of 3,563 charges for careless driving,' he said. 'It's an ongoing battle that we're having.' Kelly Chester, the inspector in charge of York Regional Police's road safety bureau, appealed to young people thinking of attending takeover rallies. 'I don't think we can repeat these messages enough, especially for the young ladies and gentlemen who are taking the cars out for the first time and are showing off to their friends,' she said, adding that street racing and takeover events — largely attended by younger demographics — are a problem in her region as well. '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. They are placing themselves in harm's way and are risking serious injury or worse,' Chester said. She added that severe penalties are also in place in York Region. Chester pointed to the City of Vaughan as an example after the city amended its bylaws to prohibit any participation in illegal car rallies with fines up to $10,000.
