02-07-2008, 09:35 AM
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#1
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Franchise Player
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Senior Charged Under Street Racing Law
The Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act has been discussed a few times on CP. In case you missed it, this is the law that allows Ontario Police to impound your car if you are caught committing some of the prescribed acts (e.g., speeding 50 km/hr over the limit).
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=48341
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=44112
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/Ottawa...31646-sun.html
Well, 76 year old Norman Harding was charged with stunting after a police officer clocked him doing 130 km/hr in an 80 km/hr zone. He says he was taking his wife to a non-emergency doctor appointment and plans to challenge the law in court:
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Harding feels the new Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act was aimed at street racers, not an elderly man in a hurry driving his wife to a non-emergency doctor's appointment.
"Hopefully, I can explain to them that I am not this kind of person," said the soft-spoken man of his Feb. 21 court date in Killaloe.
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What do you think? Valid excuse? Should the officer have exercised some discretion/compassion?
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02-07-2008, 09:43 AM
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#3
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First Line Centre
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: /dev/null
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No. He was speeding well in excess of the posted limit. He's an adult, he knew the risks.
No one should be getting a free pass when other peoples lives are at stake.
<que the speeding defenders>
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02-07-2008, 09:44 AM
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#4
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Powerplay Quarterback
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Medicine Hat
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130 km/h is too fast to drive in an 80 zone for anyone - elderly or not. I can understand the guy not wanting to be late for a doctor's appointment, but the court should not be lenient on him just because he's old. That would be ageism. Driving that fast is dangerous for everyone on the road, including himself and his wife.
To me, the excuse is quite weak. If it were a 22 year-old male in the exact same situation, I highly doubt there'd be any chance that the excuse would cause the courts to change the ruling.
So, in short, no. I don't think this particular case should be overturned.
Last edited by OBCT; 02-07-2008 at 09:49 AM.
Reason: spelling error
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02-07-2008, 09:46 AM
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#5
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Redundant Minister of Redundancy
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Montreal
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Although the law wasn't aimed at him and I have more sympathy towards him than I would towards actual street racers, the same law still applies to everyone. To only apply the law to one section of the population would be discrimination.
I don't think he should be let off the hook because of his age alone. If the appointment was an emergency, I think he could argue extenuating circumstances, but it wasn't. He was likely just late and driving fast to make up the time.
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02-07-2008, 09:46 AM
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#6
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In the Sin Bin
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: compton
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He shouldn't receive any leniency just because of his age. If anyone else were going that fast because they were late for an appointment they would be suffering the consequences. That's dangerously over the speed limit. This would not have made the news if he weren't 76 years old. If you want to make it to your NON EMERGENCY doctors appointment on time try leaving your house a little earler.
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02-07-2008, 10:05 AM
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#7
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Norm!
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Was he on his way to the country kitchen buffet.
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
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02-07-2008, 10:05 AM
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#8
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: in your blind spot.
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If it was an emergency then I could see extenuating circumstances.
No emergency, no leniency.
Age is no excuse for dangerous driving.
__________________
"The problem with any ideology is that it gives the answer before you look at the evidence."
—Bill Clinton
"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance--it is the illusion of knowledge."
—Daniel J. Boorstin, historian, former Librarian of Congress
"But the Senator, while insisting he was not intoxicated, could not explain his nudity"
—WKRP in Cincinatti
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02-07-2008, 10:32 AM
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#9
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Scoring Winger
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Northern AB, in "oil country" >:p----@
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not to mention the fact that at his age he wouldn't have the reaction speed to avoid an accident or pedestrian.
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02-07-2008, 11:15 AM
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#10
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Basement Chicken Choker
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: In a land without pants, or war, or want. But mostly we care about the pants.
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C'mon people - WAS HE IN THE LEFT LANE??????
__________________
Better educated sadness than oblivious joy.
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02-07-2008, 11:17 AM
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#11
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Lifetime Suspension
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Did he have his left blinker on the whole way?
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02-07-2008, 11:30 AM
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#12
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: in your blind spot.
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He says he was going that fast to pass a truck. How fast was the truck going that the elderly gentleman had to be going 130 (in an 80) to pass it?
__________________
"The problem with any ideology is that it gives the answer before you look at the evidence."
—Bill Clinton
"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance--it is the illusion of knowledge."
—Daniel J. Boorstin, historian, former Librarian of Congress
"But the Senator, while insisting he was not intoxicated, could not explain his nudity"
—WKRP in Cincinatti
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02-07-2008, 11:31 AM
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#13
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Not the 1 millionth post winnar
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Los Angeles
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Since the elderly are the most dangerous drivers after teenaged boys, I have no prob with "The Man" stealing his hoopty. Since he is senile enough to think the law shouldn't apply to him because he was old, this impound has probably already saved countless lives.
The elderly should stay on their porches, yelling at neighborhood children, where they belong.
__________________
"Isles give up 3 picks for 5.5 mil of cap space.
Oilers give up a pick and a player to take on 5.5 mil."
-Bax
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02-07-2008, 11:34 AM
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#14
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First Line Centre
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Toronto, ON
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Ticket the guy for the infraction, but he should NOT have his car IMPOUNDED on the spot because he was speeding. The purpose of the law is to get street-racing cars off the road where they can be hazardous - it is not to allow police to impound cars.
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02-07-2008, 11:34 AM
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#15
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Franchise Player
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he lives his life a 1/4 mile at a time
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02-07-2008, 11:36 AM
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#16
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Income Tax Central
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch
Was he on his way to the country kitchen buffet.
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Is this the parking lot of the country kitchen buffet? Grey Power!! 
Anyways, no way he gets a free pass. This law is designed to target menaces on the road, for it to work you dont get to pick and choose which people you want to rake over the coals.
__________________
The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans
If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
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02-07-2008, 12:14 PM
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#17
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: in your blind spot.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flames89
Ticket the guy for the infraction, but he should NOT have his car IMPOUNDED on the spot because he was speeding. The purpose of the law is to get street-racing cars off the road where they can be hazardous - it is not to allow police to impound cars.
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I have no problem with them impounding his car. It isn't like they do it for 10 clicks over. Or 20. Or 30. Or 40. It was 50 over the limit. I think 50 K is more than generous.
__________________
"The problem with any ideology is that it gives the answer before you look at the evidence."
—Bill Clinton
"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance--it is the illusion of knowledge."
—Daniel J. Boorstin, historian, former Librarian of Congress
"But the Senator, while insisting he was not intoxicated, could not explain his nudity"
—WKRP in Cincinatti
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02-07-2008, 12:18 PM
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#18
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Powerplay Quarterback
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I still never understood the logic that you can impound and possibly destroy a car of a street racer, but not that of a drunk driver...
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02-07-2008, 12:39 PM
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#19
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Not the 1 millionth post winnar
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Los Angeles
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iggypop
I still never understood the logic that you can impound and possibly destroy a car of a street racer, but not that of a drunk driver...
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Lord that's a good point. I'd love to see that!
__________________
"Isles give up 3 picks for 5.5 mil of cap space.
Oilers give up a pick and a player to take on 5.5 mil."
-Bax
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02-07-2008, 12:43 PM
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#20
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Income Tax Central
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iggypop
I still never understood the logic that you can impound and possibly destroy a car of a street racer, but not that of a drunk driver...
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A street racer places intrinsic value in his car, for a drunk driver it is merely a means of transport.
You destroy a street racer's car and a lesson is taught.
You destroy a drunk driver's car and he'll just go out and buy another POS $500 beater. 
__________________
The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans
If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
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