City of Vaughan cracking down on illegal car rallies with fines up to $10,000

The City of Vaughan is working with York Regional Police to crack down on drivers who are turning parking lots and other spaces into their own race tracks.

Officials say car rallies, which are organized on social media and draw large crowds, are not only illegal but also put people at risk.

Mayor Steven Del Duca, along with York Police Chief Jim MacSween, announced amendments to the city’s Special Events Bylaw and Noise Bylaw at a press conference on Tuesday, as part of what they’ve dubbed “Operation Silent Night.”

MacSween said this is a growing problem that gets worse when the weather is warmer.

“The sheer size and scope of these rallies should be alarming to everyone and the dangerous behaviour that results is a matter of public safety. These groups take over parking lots, plazas and other public property,” he said.

As a result, the city has changed its Special Events bylaws with fines of up to $10,000.

“Unauthorized car rallies are not allowed in Vaughan. Period. These gatherings are unsettling to residents and businesses, and pose a significant risk to community safety. The behaviour that takes place at these events is unacceptable, and we will be taking every action possible to stop these types of events from happening,” said Del Duca.

Officials say they will not only be cracking down on people in the vehicles but also spectators and vehicle owners.

“Whether you are actively participating in an illegal car rally, whether you’re spectating, whether you’re not even physically there, but a vehicle that you own is actually at a car rally,” Del Duca said at the news conference.

Officials say the maximum fine for taking part in or having a vehicle at an unauthorized car rally is $10,000. The city and police can also issue an administrative penalty of $1,000 for a first offence and $2,000 for any subsequent offence.

“This includes anyone sponsoring, collecting money for, coordinating, advertising, hosting or being a vendor,” authorities state in a release.

Anyone attending or a passenger in a vehicle at an unauthorized car rally may face a fine up to $10,000 or face an administrative penalty of $500.

The Special Events Bylaw has been amended to prohibit any participation in unauthorized car rallies, including:

• sponsoring, collecting money for, co-ordinating, advertising or hosting a car rally
• spectating, attending or bringing a vehicle to a car rally
• driving or riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle at a car rally
• stopping, slowing or impeding the movement of traffic, including pedestrian traffic, as a
• consequence of a car rally
• being a vendor at a car rally

The city also amended its Noise Bylaw to “prohibit anyone from emitting, causing or permitting noise from an
unauthorized car rally,” with a maximum fine of $5,000.

Those in violation could be fined or face an administrative penalty of $1,000 for a first offence and $2,000 for any subsequent offence.

The changes to the Special Events and Noise bylaws were approved by Vaughan City Council on March 26.