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Quote:Tories table bill to crack down on street racing
CTV.ca News Staff

The federal government tabled a bill Thursday to make street racing a crime.

The proposed legislation will add the specific activity of street racing to the Criminal Code and if passed, will mean those convicted will face driving bans and stiffer sentences.

The legislation was introduced at the outset of business in the House of Commons on Thursday and Justice Minister Vic Toews detailed the new bill at a morning news conference in Ottawa.

"It's a very dangerous activity and we want to send a very clear message that people are only entitled to use our public highways if they obey specific laws," Toews told reporters.

Back in May, Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised federal action on the issue, saying the Tories will propose changes to the laws in line with those urged by late B.C. MP Chuck Cadman.

Cadman, who died in July after a battle with skin cancer, had previously drafted a private-member's bills demanding stiffer penalties for both street racing and vehicle theft.

Street racers currently convicted of dangerous driving face a maximum sentence of five years. If someone is injured, the maximum is 10 years, and 14 years if someone is killed.

Street racing accidents

Street racing has been blamed on several deaths and injuries across the country in recent years.

Just last week, a 31-year-old Ontario man was killed when he was reportedly racing his Porsche west of Toronto.

And last month an Ontario couple celebrating their 17th wedding anniversary were killed north of Toronto when their vehicle was struck by a young man in a street race.

In January, a 46-year-old Toronto cab driver died when he was caught in the middle of an alleged street race between two Toronto students.

The same month, four men were killed in Vancouver when their car slammed into a lamppost.

The street racing bill follows Conservative legislation to impose mandatory minimum sentences for crimes involving guns and for ending conditional sentences for violent offenders.

The government also plans to raise the age of consent for sex to 16 from 14.

Two street-racing cars to be destroyed

Meanwhile, in an attempt to bring attention to the issue in Ontario, York Regional Police and Attorney General Michael Bryant will destroy two cars forfeited for speeding and dangerous driving.

"The message is clear: this is what will happen to your prized possession if you continue to race on York Region roads," York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge said in a press release Thursday.

The vehicles, which were stopped in separate incidences in 2004 and 2005, were substantially modified for street racing.

"Street racing is a dangerous, unlawful activity that puts innocent people at risk," La Barge said

Since 1999, 34 people have been killed by street racing in the Greater Toronto area alone.