The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Manitoba government hopes to apply the brakes to street racing with tough measures introduced yesterday. Amendments to The Highway Traffic Act allow police to put an immediate halt to the practice by empowering them to seize and impound vehicles used in street races for 48 hours. "The impoundment period provides a cooling off period for drivers and gives them an opportunity to rethink their reckless behaviour," said Attorney General Gord Mackintosh in a press statement. The act defines a street race as a contest of speed between two or more motor vehicles when there is an indication of a common intention between the drivers to engage in the contest. Prior to the amendments, police did not have clear authority to target and impound vehicles used for racing. The new impoundment law supplements existing provisions of the Highway Traffic Act under which street racers can be charged and face fines of up to $5,000 and a licence suspension of up to a year. "Vehicle impoundment separates the driver from the road immediately, providing a sanction that sends a strong message to would-be racers, making our streets safer right away," said Mackintosh.12/8/04
