York Regional Police and the City of Vaughan are cracking down on unauthorized car rallies that are disruptive and dangerous.
The police force discussed ways it is shutting down the large-scale events, with the support of a new city bylaw that provides steep fines for participants, at a news conference at District 4 headquarters today.
“It is this time of the year when these rallies become ever more frequent and far more dangerous,” said Chief Jim MacSween. “These gatherings are characterized by risky driving antics and sizable crowds. The involved drivers are organized, they advertise the rallies on social media encouraging their followers to attend.”
Vaughan council approved motions to amend the special events bylaw and noise bylaw that prohibits any participation in unauthorized car rallies. Mayor Steven Del Duca denounced the illegal rallies, telling spectators they are not welcome in the city.
“Your free ride is over,” said Del Duca. “You are not welcome here. Your behaviour is not welcomed here and we will do what we can within our power in conjunction and partnership with York Regional Police, to make sure that you face the consequences for behaviour that is unacceptable.”
Illegal car rallies typically involve people gathering with modified vehicles to do stunts, and taking over private property, like parking lots.
“We’ve been battling this problem in a variety of ways, including targeted enforcement, joint force operations, and internal task forces,” said MacSween.
MacSween said more than 100 people attended an unauthorized rally at Weston Road and Highway 7 when a 15-year-old girl was injured in a shooting in a plaza parking lot.
The events do not have a permit or permission from the City of Vaughan to take place. Amendments to the special events bylaw prohibit any participation in unauthorized car rallies including sponsoring, collecting money, co-ordinating, advertising, or hosting, spectating, attending or bringing a vehicle to a car rally, driving or riding as a passenger in a vehicle at a car rally, stopping, slowing or impeding the movement of traffic, including pedestrians, as a consequence of a car rally, and being a vendor at a car rally.
Amendments to the noise bylaw prohibit anyone from emitting, causing, or permitting noise from an unauthorized car rally.
“Whether you’re actively participating in an illegal car rally, whether you’re spectating, whether you’re not physically there but a vehicle that you own is actually at the car rally, you potentially can face serious monetary penalties,” said Del Duca.
Participating in a car rally can be associated with a maximum fine of $10,000. The maximum fine associated with breaking the noise bylaw is $5,000.
“York Regional Police is in full support of the bylaw amendments outlined by Mayor Del Duca that prohibit these rallies,” said MacSween. “We hope these amendments will be adopted across our entire region.”
The police force states unauthorized car rallies are disruptive to citizens’ quality of life and pose a significant risk to the community. These events often come with excessive noise, speeding, stunt driving, and blocking or impeding motor or pedestrian traffic.
“They create excessive noise that frustrates nearby residents and businesses, who then complain to the police and the city and rightfully so,” said MacSween. “It should frustrate everyone. They are becoming increasingly and understandably unhappy.”
Administrative fees can be charged by the police and the city. The penalty for any person participating in, having their motor vehicle at, sponsoring, collecting money for, co-ordinating, advertising, hosting, or being a vendor at an unauthorized car rally is $1,000 for the first offence and $2,000 for the second and subsequent offences.
Participants spectating, attending, or riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle at an unauthorized car rally can receive a penalty of $500 for the first offence and $500 for the second and subsequent offence.
Any person emitting, causing, or permitting sound or noise from a car rally can receive a penalty of $1,000 for the first offence and $2,000 for the second offence.
Homeowners in Vaughan are prohibited from hosting or allowing an unauthorized car rally to take place. They can be subject to fines. Property owners are responsible for preventing unauthorized events from taking place on their property and reporting if any unauthorized events do occur.
The municipality, in collaboration with YRP, is working with plaza owners to outline their role and responsibilities about the bylaw, and how they can help deter unauthorized car rally events from taking place on their properties.
“We are going to work closely with all our plaza owners,” said Del Duca. “I had the opportunity, like other members of council, to speak with plaza owners. They share our great concerns about what they have seen taken place. They want to work with us.”
