Toronto police have laid a stunt driving charge against an 18-year-old man accused of driving almost twice the speed limit during an early-morning ride on the Gardiner Expressway.
Police said the teen was charged after a 2007 Nissan Altima was clocked at 167 kilometres-per-hour in a 90 km/h zone Thursday, shortly before 1 a.m.
The car was heading east near Strachan Avenue when it was first spotted by the officer.
When the officer caught up to the car, it was being driven with a flat tire near Strachan Avenue and Sherbourne Street and could no longer be driven, police said in a news release.
In addition to stunt driving, police charged the teen with driving a motor vehicle without a licence and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
Immediate licence suspension, car impounded
A stunt driving charge carries an automatic seven-day licence suspension for the driver and it allows police to seize the driver's vehicle for seven days.
Since Jan. 1, Toronto police have issued 107 suspensions for stunt driving, a law that was introduced by the provincial government in September 2007 to deter street racing and speeding.
The definition of stunt driving includes driving a vehicle at 50 km/h or more above the posted speed limit.
A conviction carries a fine of $2,000 to $10,000, six demerits, up to six months in jail and a licence suspension of up to two years.
A judge can impose a licence suspension of up to 10 years if a second conviction occurs within 10 years of the first conviction.
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