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The Ottawa Police are in the process of implementing a new district policing model that will better respond to the varying needs and issues of Ottawa's communities.
Part of the transition is a new traffic enforcement strategy that relies on community and councillor feedback in the response processes. More information on this new strategy and its rollout can be found here.
OPS Residents Matter Team
What is RMET? The OPS Residents Matter Enforcement Teams (RMET), composed of OPS frontline and Traffic Unit officers, began deploying to late-night high-complaint locations.
RMET officers will be taking a zero-tolerance approach to all speed, impaired driving, unnecessary noise and related dangerous and disruptive driving behaviour on city streets and roadways.
RMET Efforts
Late August 2024 (76 charges)
(Ottawa) — Members of the Ottawa Police Service Traffic Escort & Enforcement Unit and frontline patrol officers were out on Friday, August 30th, as part of the Residents Matter (#ResidentsMatter) late-night traffic enforcement initiative.
Officers were deployed to the Kanata, Barrhaven and Riverside South areas. In total, 65 provincial offence notices (PONs) were issued during Friday’s enforcement incl. Among the PONs issued, 29 were for speeding, six for obstructed licence plates, five for failing to display two licence plates, five for improper mufflers, and four were for driving with a hand-held communication device.
Five drivers were also charged with stunt driving/street racing on Friday.
147 km/h in an 80 km/h zone – Robertson Road / Haanel Drive
142 km/h in a 70 km/h zone – Terry Fox Drive / Richardson Side Road
110 km/h in a 60 km/h zone – Fallowfield Road / Orr Street
106 km/h in a 60 km/h zone – Strandherd Drive / RioCan Avenue
146 km/h in a 60 km/h zone – Strandherd Drive / RioCan Avenue
The driver going 146 km/h in the 60 km/h zone had been previously charged with stunt driving within the last three years.
These stunt drivers had their licences suspended for 30 days, their vehicles seized for 14 days, and have upcoming court dates. As a reminder, when convicted, a stunt driving charge may result in a fine of $2000 - $10000, six demerit points, a possible six months in jail, and a further one-year to three-year licence suspension.
Additional traffic stops included a driver driving while suspended and another for speeding, failing to surrender their licence and driving while suspended.
Overall, 76 charges were issued, including 11 Court Summons and the 65 PONs.
Do you have any information about a late-night traffic-related problem location? Traffic complaints can be filed online at: ottawapolice.ca/report. It only takes a few minutes, and the data collected assists us in the allocation of enforcement resources.
Mid-August, 2024 (73 total charges)
Compiled by the Ward 3 Team with information provided by the OPS
Last Friday, Traffic Escort & Enforcement and frontline officers were in the Barrhaven and Riverside South areas as part of the #ResidentsMatter late-night traffic enforcement initiative.
Seven drivers were also charged with stunt driving/street racing on Friday.
137 km/h in an 80 km/h zone – Woodroffe Avenue / Slack Road
112 km/h in a 60 km/h zone – Greenbank Road / Highbury Park
122 km/h in a 60 km/h zone – Greenbank Road / Foxfield Drive
111 km/h in a 60 km/h zone – Greenbank Road / Foxfield Drive
121 km/h in a 60 km/h zone – Greenbank Road / Foxfield Drive
114 km/h in a 70 km/h zone – Strandherd Drive / Dealership Drive
135 km/h in an 80 km/h zone – Limebank Road / Leitrim Road
The vehicle going 111 km/h on Greenbank Road and Foxfield Drive had eight occupants in a five-seater vehicle. Two passengers were in the trunk, and one person was sitting on the front passenger's lap. Four passengers were not wearing seatbelts. Driving with passengers in the trunk is an additional stunt driving charge.
The driver going 114 km/h at Strandherd Drive / Dealership Drive was also charged with the possession of a Schedule I substance (drugs) under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act.
Additional traffic stops included two drivers driving with no insurance, which carries a minimum $5000 fine upon conviction.
In total, 73 provincial offence notices (PONs) were issued during Friday’s enforcement, including 27 for speeding, eight for licence plate visibility issues, six for failing to display two licence plates, five for unnecessary noise, and five for failing to stop at a red light. Additionally, 21 Court Summons were issued, and three Criminal Code charges were laid.
Mid July, 2024 (61 total charges)
On the evening of July 19th 2024, traffic officers and frontline traffic representatives deployed in Barrhaven and the south end for #ResidentsMatter enforcement.
The enforcement resulted in 41 provincial offense notices issued, including:
· Speeding x16
· No/Improper Muffler x7
· Fail To Display Two Plates x4
· Fail To Surrender Insurance Card x2
· Use Plates Not Authorized For Vehicle x2
· Tint x2
· Cell Phone Use x1
· Unnecessary Noise x1
· Entire Plate Not Plainly Visible x1
· Fail To Surrender Permit x1
· Class G1 Driver Unaccompanied By Qualified Driver x1
Court Summons were issued for Stunt Driving, including:
· 125km/h in posted 70km/h zone -- Strandherd Dr / Aura Ave
· 112km/h in posted 70km/h zone -- Strandherd Dr / Chapman Mills Dr
· 126km/h in posted 70km/h zone -- Strandherd Dr / Claridge Dr
· 181km/h in posted 70km/h zone -- Strandherd Dr / Kennevale Dr
These stunt drivers had their licences suspended for 30 days and vehicles seized/impounded for 14 days and have upcoming court dates.
Two additional drivers were issued court summons for driving while suspended, and also face other charges such as no muffler, no plates and permit expired.
Another driver was stopped doing 109km/h in 70 km/h zone on Strandherd Dr and was issued a 30-day licence suspension for his 4th “Alert” on the Alcohol Screening Device.
Early July, 2024 (63 total charges)
On the evening of July 5th, traffic officers and frontline traffic representatives deployed in the Barrhaven / Riverside South area for #ResidentsMatter enforcement.
Last weekend’s enforcement resulted in 56 provincial offence notices issued, including:
· 21 speeding
· 7 improper lights
· 4 fail to surrender licence
· 4 improper/no muffler
· 4 fail to display two plates
· 3 driving while using a cellphone
· 2 novice drivers with a blood alcohol level above zero - 3-day licence suspensions were also issued
The following Court Summons were issued for Stunt Driving over a six-hour period:
· 157km/h in posted 70km/h zone -- Strandherd Dr / Madrid Ave
· 118km/h in posted 70km/h zone -- Strandherd Dr / Borrisokane St
· 135km/h in posted 80km/h zone -- Woodroffe Ave / Grenfell Cres
· 109km/h in posted 60km/h zone -- Greenbank Rd / Foxfield Dr
· 96km/h in posted 60km/h zone -- Greenbank Rd / Foxfield Dr (Driver was charged with Stunt Drive for having a person in the trunk).
These drivers had their licences suspended for 30 days, their vehicles seized/impounded for 14 days, and could face further penalties upon conviction in court.
In total, 63 Provincial Offence Notices / Summons were issued.
Late June, 2024 (101 total charges)
(Ottawa) – The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) announces the launch of the Residents Matter (#ResidentsMatter) late-night traffic enforcement initiative.
Starting on Friday, June 21st, the OPS Residents Matter Enforcement Teams (RMET), composed of OPS frontline and Traffic Unit officers, began deploying to late-night high-complaint locations in the Barrhaven area.
RMET officers will be taking a zero-tolerance approach to all speed, impaired driving, unnecessary noise and related dangerous and disruptive driving behaviour on city streets and roadways.
During Residents Matter’s first night on Friday, June 21st, 94 provincial offence notices were issued, among them:
28 speeding
12 no muffler or improper mufflers
9 obstructed licence plates
10 invalid permits
10 failure to display two licence plates
2 unlicensed drivers
In addition, during a 6-hour period, seven drivers were issued Court Summons for stunt driving/street racing. These include:
114km/h in 60km/h zone – Greenbank Rd / Malvern Dr
145km/h in 80km/h zone – Woodroffe Ave / Fallowfield Rd
121km/h in 80km/h zone – Strandherd Dr / Madrid Ave
154km/h in 80km/h zone – Woodroffe Ave / Grenfell Cres
Greenbank Rd / West Hunt Club Rd – a member of the public called police to report 3 vehicles racing. Police intercepted them and each driver was charged
These drivers also had their vehicles seized/impounded for 14 days, their licences suspended for 30 days, and each face a minimum fine of $2000 and a further minimum 1-year driver’s licence suspension, upon conviction.
Additionally, one driver was given a 3-day licence suspension after registering an ‘alert’ on a roadside alcohol screening device.
“The negative impact of high-risk, disruptive behaviour on our city streets cannot be understated. Residents have spoken, and we’ve been listening; in forming the Residents Matter Enforcement Team (RMET), our intention is to provide a robust enforcement presence in the evening hours throughout the summer,” said Sergeant Craig Roberts, OPS District Traffic Manager.
Do you have any information about a late-night traffic-related problem location? Traffic complaints can be filed online at: ottawapolice.ca/report. It only takes a few minutes, and the data collected assists us in allocation enforcement resources.
Residents Matter traffic enforcement initiative - Ottawa Police Service