Well I hate to be the victim of a stereotyping , but in my case it was painfully accurate.

I'm 23 and purchased my 05 Z51 with 30,000km in Dec of 08. Last Sunday it was finally nice enough to take my girlfriend out for a spin, I have only had the vette on the road for maybe 2 weeks at best. I had never taken it anywhere except the small town where I live so I decided we'd make a day of it and head in Ottawa which about an hour from my home and do some shopping. Other than a a couple spirited launches I was being very conscious of my driving paranoid that I would be picked out for being a young vette pilot. After driving behind some slow traffic on the two lane potion of the highway for 20 minutes and unable to pass as it seems everyone was out for a cruise this day, I was itching to hear my newly installed Borlas again. The road expands to 4 lanes and the fast lane is wide open, with 4 cars in the slow lane and nothing ahead in sight.
I drop to third put my foot in it and accelerate. I'm well past the 4 cars in a couple of seconds when I glance ahead to see the radar trap . The officer waves me in from ahead and I pull over.

I got charged with doing 163 in a posted 100,(in Ontario anything 50 over the posted limit is considered "stunt driving"). Stunt driving charges result in an automatic 7 day vehicle impound and 7 day license suspension as well as an automatic court hearing. While waiting for the tow truck the officer gets talking to me turns out to be quite a nice guy and asks if he can sit in the car. I give him the go ahead so he jumps in fires it up a grins and shuts it down. My gf and I both get a ride in the back of the cruiser to the closest gas station where my friend picks us up.

My court date is April 24th, and here is what could result:

Stunt Driving
Actions that are considered to be Stunt Driving in Ontario:

* Driving at a rate of speed that is higher than 50km/hr over the posted limit
* Driving without care and attention to the road or without reasonable care for the safety of others on the road


For example:

* Preventing another car from passing without reason
* Stopping or slowing your car in a manner that interferes with the movement of the cars behind you
* Completing Donuts (circular motions with your car)
* Driving your car in a position that is not seated in the driver’s seat
* Driving with passengers in your trunk
* Improper turns


What are the consequences associated with a stunt driving / street racing conviction?

- A minimum fine of $2000 up to a maximum fine of $10,000
- Imprisonment for not more than 6 months
- Licence suspension for not more than 2 years for a 1st conviction
(up to 10 years for a 2nd conviction)
- Up to a 100% insurance rate increase for the next three years
- Six demerit points


I'm going to fight it but if convicted then I will probably have to sell my C6 .

It took me a long time to save for the car and find the exact one I wanted, it really was a dream come true to finally have it and be part of the community. Probably less than 8 seconds of spirited driving and it's all gone.

The morale of the story is save the speed for the track. I know I may have been at fault and deserve whatever happens. However I do think the new law is very harsh.

Learn from my mistake, it's just not worth. It might be hard to keep your foot out of it sometimes, but its much harder to watch your perfectly good car leave on a town truck as you stand on the side of the road.

 

No self-righteousness here. You are a real man to be able to admit to this, and to your fault. I hope it's a very good lesson to the rest of us. Thank you and good luck.

 

not really much to add to this you're kinda saying it all. Most of us have been there and done that but didn't get caught.


Best of luck when your court date arrives

 

Bummer to hear this. Even though you might "deserve" this, it does seem overly harsh. Why will you have to sell it? If it's because of the fine maybe we can pass around the hat here on the forum and folks can chip in some dough for you. I'm good for $20 US.

Good luck. Hopefully you don't need to sell it!!

 

That seems EXTREMELY harsh. Good luck with the court date. I think we've all probably hit 100 mph at one time or another. Hope they just give you a slap on the wrist.

 

Nice of you to man up and admit your stupidity, but why, then are you fighting the charges? You've just admitted, for all the world to see, your total guilt. If the prosecuting attorney has any sense at all, someone in his office will find this post and beat you over the head with it. Are you hoping for some kind of leniency? The new law may very well be "harsh," but you must pay if you wish to play.

 

Careful: We don't want to get this locked before we get the chance to collect up some donations for the fine

 

I would beg forgivness. If you fight it you might make it worse. Just explain that you are normally very mature and you had a lapse in judgment. A lot of times the judicial system can be favorable if you've never had an issue before.

 

Excellent point.

 

In this circumstance, I would retain a good lawyer.

Hope all ends well.

 

Wow I really appreciate the thought here. It's not about the fine or any of the monetary consequences. The doubling of my insurance (which is already high due to my age) would hurt quite a bit but I could even live with that since the vehicle is parked in the winter.

My biggest concern is getting nailed with any other sort of ticket at all in the future. Since I may have 6 points added if I am charged , then any other ticket in the next 2 years would require me to have an interview with the Ministry of Transportation and justify why they shouldn't take my license. I'm a young professional and entrepreneur and loosing my license would have huge implications.

 

I am sorry to hear that. If you can't drive your car in a spirited fashion every so often, what's the point of owning a Vette? Everyone might as well drive an economy commuter car if you're going to stick to the speed limit the rest of your life...

 

The government fights hard to prove you guilty even if you are innocent (not in this case) but, none the less why shouldn't we fight hard to prove we are innocent even if we are guilty?
I always fight; guilty or innocent. You may get off by fighting, you definitely won't by not.
My 2 cents.....
Good Luck with your case, as others have said the majority have given the car a quick burst of speed here,
David

 

Good luck. You sound like a decent guy; maybe you will get a break. If you have to sell it, how about selling it to the GF?

 

These cases are often successfully fought. I would be happy with having it reduced to just speeding, since there is no way in hell I was "stunt driving". In the comment section on my ticket the officer wrote "driving 163 km/h while performing a stunt". My question is performing what stunt? It implies I was speed and doing something else. Regardless, I have at least one more month before anything happens so at least I can get it to the track.

 

Maybe the Officer will be at the court hearing...
I got a ticket in college and since I was not an idiot to the cop, he offered to help get me out of the ticket if I needed help. I pleaded guilty asked for forgiveness and the judge said she wrote something on my paperwork that would take care of it. I only had to pay a simple court fee that day!

Hopefully your driving record is clean with no other tickets!

 

Agreed. You need to get on the good side of the judge.
Say something like this:
Your honor, I just got this car and I didn't realize how fast it was. It just took off on me. I certainly never intended to break the law, or do anything to put others in harms way.

Lay it on thick, and hope that it sticks.

 

Please fight it.

And then send a letter to your MP to complain about having your constitutional rights violated by recieving penalty without recourse without having your day in court.

As an FYI, rumor has it the crown is no longer plea bargaining on these charges so retain a good lawyer and see what happens.

I'm surprised you even let the copper touch your car, let alone start it up after screwing you over. If he let me off "maybe" but definately not after getting the book thrown at me. Next time tell the cop where to shove it while waiting for the tow.

 

There, but for the grace of God, go I.

Sorry to hear the news. Hang in there, maybe it'll work out OK.

I got popped at 101 and 103 within a month one summer a few years back. Nothing like what you're facing, but it did hit my wallet hard. UT and NV highway patrollers. Ouch.

 

By the way,

For those who are vistors to our fine Gestapo based province, you too are subject to such draconian laws.

Be careful, the Man is after you.