Latest news with #MichaelFathi
CTV News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
More Ottawa drivers taking the chance to drive without insurance, OPP say
Police on provincial highways say they're seeing more people driving without insurance. As CTV's Austin Lee reports, if you're caught, you face a hefty fine. Hundreds of Ottawa drivers have received a costly reminder to have insurance for their vehicles, as police continue to see a rise in uninsured motorists on highways in the national capital region. Ontario Provincial Police say since Jan. 1, officers in Ottawa have issued 336 charges to drivers for operating a vehicle without insurance. Twenty-five charges were issued to drivers without insurance on Ottawa highways during the August long weekend. The fine for driving without insurance is a minimum of $5,000. OPP Const. Michael Fathi tells CTV News Ottawa that if you cannot afford insurance for your vehicle, you shouldn't drive. 'We're seeing, definitely, an increase in drivers driving without insurance,' Fathi said Wednesday. 'A lot of them, it's cost of living. Some of them have just thought it would be cheaper to take the chance and not insure their vehicle, even though once they're caught it's a $5,000 fine minimum.' OPP cruisers are equipped with automated license plate recognition (ALPR) system cameras, that scan licence plates to flag vehicles without insurance, suspended licences, expired registrations, and stolen vehicles. Fathi has a message to drivers thinking they can drive without insurance. 'The odds are not in their favour anymore, especially with our ALPR cameras,' Fathi said. 'Our ALPR cameras will pick up their licence plates, the licence plates will show as being expired. Everybody seems to think their licence plate will automatically renew on their birth date, but it won't if you don't have proper insurance.' On Tuesday, a driver was stopped twice on Highway 417 for not having insurance. Police said an ALPR detected a vehicle's plate permit was expired on Highway 417 at Carling Avenue Tuesday morning. Around 2 p.m., the same driver was stopped near Anderson Road. The driver is facing 10 charges and $10,000 in fines for driving without insurance. Since Jan. 1, 2024, the Ottawa OPP has charged 697 drivers for driving a motor vehicle without insurance. Fathi says it's dangerous to be driving without insurance. 'We have one officer here who himself since January has laid 70 charges on his own,' Fathi said.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
OPP stop driver going 63 km/h over speed limit in Hwy. 417 construction zone
Ontario Provincial Police say the driver of this vehicle was stopped going 63 km/h over the speed limit in a construction zone on Highway 417. (OPP/X) An early morning driver had to find another way to travel after being stopped speeding on Highway 417 in Ottawa. Ontario Provincial Police say an officer stopped a driver going 143 km/h on Highway 417 just before 5 a.m. Wednesday. The speed limit is 80 km/h in the construction zone between Bronson Avenue and Kent Street. The driver is facing a charge of stunt driving, which includes a 30-day driving suspension and the vehicle impounded for 14 days. OPP Const. Michael Fathi says the driver faces a minimum $2,000 fine, six demerit points and a one-year driving prohibition upon conviction. On Tuesday, two drivers were stopped for speeding 100 km/h over the posted limit in the construction zone. 'Ottawa OPP members continue to conduct traffic enforcement on Highway 417 in the construction area between Bronson and Kent,' Fathi said in a post on X. 'Slow down when going through construction zones so everyone can get home safe.' Construction work is underway on the median of Highway 417 between the O-Train bridges and Kent Street. Other construction work underway on Highway 417 includes improvements to the noise barrier and retaining wall replacements from Island Park Drive to Kent Street.
CTV News
5 days ago
- CTV News
2 drivers stopped going 100 km/h over speed limit on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police say two drivers were stopped racing 100 km/h over the speed limit on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa Tuesday morning. (OPP/X) Two drivers are facing stunt driving charges after being stopped racing 100 km/h over the posted speed limit on Highway 417 in Ottawa, according to police. Ontario Provincial Police say officers stopped two vehicles shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday. A photo posted on social media showed one driver going 186 km/h. 'Three vehicles were observed racing each other through the construction zone where the speed is 80km/h!' OPP Const. Michael Fathi said on X. 'Officers were able to stop two of the vehicles.' The two drivers stopped, ages 18 and 19, are facing charges of stunt driving and dangerous driving. Fathi says the drivers also had their licences suspended for 30 days and their vehicles were impounded for 14 days.
CTV News
28-07-2025
- CTV News
Driver registers 2 times over legal alcohol limit after single-vehicle crash on Hwy. 416 in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police say officers responded to a single-vehicle crash on Hwy. 416 near Hunt Club Road Sunday morning. Police say a roadside screening device was utilized and the driver was brought to the Ottawa detachment for a breath test. (OPP/X) A Prescott, Ont. man is facing impaired driving charges after a single-vehicle crash on Highway 416 in Ottawa. Emergency crews responded to reports of a vehicle that rolled over on Hwy. 416 near Hunt Club Road shortly before 1 a.m. on Sunday. Ontario Provincial Police say officers at the scene suspected the driver had been consuming alcohol. 'A roadside screening device was utilized and the driver was brought back to detachment for a breath test,' OPP Const. Michael Fathi said. 'The driver registered more than twice the legal limit.' The driver is facing charges of dangerous operation of a vehicle, operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs, and operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus). Fathi says the driver had his licence suspended for 90 days and his vehicle was impounded for seven days.
CTV News
18-07-2025
- CTV News
OPP seize 2,000 unstamped cigarettes during traffic stop on Hwy. 417
Ontario Provincial Police say officers found 2,000 unstamped cigarettes inside a vehicle during a traffic stop on Highway 417 in Ottawa Wednesday night. (OPP/X) Ontario Provincial Police discovered 2,000 unstamped cigarettes after stopping a vehicle observed driving erratically on Highway 417 in Ottawa. Police say shortly before 11 p.m. Wednesday, a driver was stopped on Highway 417 near Innes Road to 'check their sobriety after officers observed erratic driving.' 'A roadside screening device was utilized and the driver registered a warning range suspension,' OPP Const. Michael Fathi said. 'Officers also located 2,000 unstamped cigarettes.' Fathi says the driver had their licence suspended for three days and will face charges under the Excise Act. On Tuesday, the OPP discovered 17,820 kilograms of contraband tobacco inside a tractor-trailer during a traffic stop on Hwy. 401 near Kingston.
