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Stunt Driving - Racing, doughnuts, burnouts

Stunt Driving: Burnouts, Racing & Doughnuts in a parking lot

Stunt Driving: More Than Just Excessive Speeding?

Many of us associate Stunt Driving with extreme speeding – going over 40km in zones under 80km or over 50km in zones above 80km. However, in Ontario, the law extends beyond speed. Police can issue Stunt Driving charges for other reckless behaviours on the road. According to Section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act, actions like burnouts, street racing, or performing doughnuts could also land you with a Stunt Driving charge.

What is a Burnout in relation to a Stunt Driving charge?

According to a definition in Wikipedia, A burnout (also known as a peel out, power brake, or brakestand) is the practice of keeping a vehicle stationary and spinning its wheels, the resultant friction causing the tires to heat up and smoke.

What is a Doughnut in relation to a Stunt Driving charge?

According to Wikipedia, A doughnut or donut is a maneuver performed while driving a vehicle. Performing this maneuver entails rotating the rear or front of the vehicle around the opposite set of wheels in a continuous motion, creating (ideally) a circular skid-mark pattern of rubber on a carriageway and possibly even causing the tires to emit smoke from friction.

How is Racing defined in the Highway Traffic Act, Section 172 in Ontario?

For the purposes of section 172 of the Act, “race” and “contest” include any activity where one or more persons engage in any of the following driving behaviours:

  1. Driving two or more motor vehicles at a rate of speed that is a marked departure from the lawful rate of speed and in a manner that indicates the drivers of the motor vehicles are engaged in a competition.
  2. Driving a motor vehicle in a manner that indicates an intention to chase another motor vehicle.
  3. Driving a motor vehicle without due care and attention, without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway or in a manner that may endanger any person by,

What constitutes a Stunt Driving charge in Ontario?

In Ontario, a Stunt Driving charge isn't just linked to speeding. Although exceeding 40km in a zone under 80km, or over 50km in zones above 80km is commonly seen, the law sees beyond speed. According to Section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act, reckless behaviours like burnouts, street racing, or performing doughnuts could also constitute a Stunt Driving charge.

How are burnouts, doughnuts and racing defined in relation to a Stunt Driving charge?

A burnout, in context of a Stunt Driving charge, refers to keeping a vehicle stationary and spinning its wheels, causing the tires to heat up and smoke. A doughnut involves rotating the rear or front of the vehicle around the opposite set of wheels continuously, creating a circular skid-mark pattern of rubber on a carriageway, often causing tire smoke. Racing, as per Section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act, includes activities that indicate a competition, chasing another vehicle, or driving without due care and attention that endangers any person or breaks the lawful speed limit.

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About Jon Cohen, Partner

Jonathan practices exclusively in defending Stunt Driving charges in Ontario.  He is the co-founding partner of Nextlaw and is licensed by the Law Society of Ontario.

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Next Law publishes these articles and videos as a service to our website visitors for general informational purposes only. These materials do not, and are not, intended to, constitute legal advice. You should not act upon any such information without seeking professional counsel.