OPP To Drivers: We’ll Be Watching You
Posted June 29, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
We must really like Canada Day in this country. After all, we’ve been celebrating a form of it annually for the past 140 years. But the anniversary of the day this country was founded has become as much about getting away from the place we call home as feting the fact that we live here at all.
Which brings us to another yearly ritual – the Mass Exodus from here to there, as GTA residents get away for one of the biggest long weekends of the season. But they’re not going alone. Every breath they take, every move they make, they’ll be watching you. If it sounds like the police, it is.
We may not be hearing the sordid tales of ridiculous driving like we have in past years after OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino put a stop to them, but the cops are still out in force watching for bad drivers, leadfoots, drunks and cars that are unsafe at any speed.
It didn’t take long for patrols to find one. “Body mounts are gone and expired license plates, a hazard on the highway,” condemns P.C. Cory Kostyra. “I’m glad we got it off the road before an accident happened.” What does the owner think about losing his wheels on the way up to cottage country? “It’s unfortunate but it’s the end of our weekend, right?” 18-year-old Ryan Stevenson shrugs.
Cops are especially alert to those with a need for speed after native protests blocked parts of the 401 on Friday, delaying many heading to their destination of choice. The men and women in blue are warning you not to try to make up for lost time because they’ll only delay you further with a ticket.
Most drivers admit cops are a necessary part of their outbound journey. “When I was a university or high school student, I didn’t really think much about families on the roads,” concedes Martin Birthelmer. “But I’m hoping that people here are aware of the police presence.”
The one thing no one wants is a summer rerun. “Four people were killed on Canada Day weekend last year and we have extra officers focusing here on Highway 400 and, indeed, all highways across the province,” concludes O.P.P. Sgt. Cam Woolley. “We’re watching especially for high speeds.”
They’ll be out in force until everyone comes back on Monday night.
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