Highway 417 in Ottawa: OPP charge dozens of drivers during execution of safety project ‘gust’ Friday [Video]

A joint police operation to promote safe driving on Highway 417 in the Ottawa area has resulted in laying dozens of charges in three hours Friday, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

The highway saw an increased police presence, including members of the OPP, Highway Safety Division (HSD), Ottawa OPP Detachment, OPP Aviation Services, OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB), Ottawa Police Service (OPS) Traffic Services and OPS Neighbourhood Resource Team -West (NRT).

Police laid 39 Traffic Act charges during the three-hour operation, seven of which were for stunt driving.

Officers also laid 10 criminal charges and seized three motorcycles, “including one that had been reported stolen.”

Police say two drivers had been stopped before for stunt driving. One driver had been stopped in a similar operation that took place in September of 2022.

A 31-year-old driver from Ottawa has been charged with dangerous operation, two counts of flight …