Vaughan, Ontario — According to reports by City News, the City of Vaughan, Ontario, is working with York Regional Police to prevent illegal car rallies with $10,000 fines.
Specifically, city officials and York Regional Police have worked to prevent parking lots and other municipal spaces from being turned into illegal race tracks as these events, organized on social media, can put people at risk.
During a press conference on Tuesday as part of what has been dubbed “Operation Silent Night,” Mayor Steven Del Duea and York Police Chief Jim MacSween announced amendments to the city’s Special Events Bylaw and Noise Bylaw.
“The sheer size and scope of these rallies should be alarming to everyone and the dangerous behaviour that results is a matter of public safety. These groups are taking over parking lots, plazas and other public property,” MacSween originally reported to Irene Preklet and Patricia D’Cunha, City News.
As a result, the city has changed its Special Events bylaw to have fines of up to $10,000.
“Unauthorized car rallies are not allowed in Vaughan. Period,” Del Duea further commented. “These gatherings are unsettling to residents and businesses, and pose a significant risk to community safety. The behaviour that takes place at these events is unacceptable and we will be taking every action possible to stop these types of events from happening.”
Officials also stressed that they will not only be cracking down on people in vehicles, but also spectators and vehicle owners. According to the bylaw changes, the following actions are now prohibited:
- Sponsoring, collecting money for, co-ordinating, advertising or hosting a car rally.
- Spectating, attending or bringing a vehicle to a rally.
- Driving or riding a passenger in a motor vehicle at a car rally.
- Stopping, slowing, or impeding the movement of traffic, including pedestrian traffic, as a consequence of a car rally.
- Being a vendor at a car rally.
The city also changed its Noise Bylaw “to prohibit anyone from emitting, causing or permitting noise from an unauthorized car rally,” with a maximum fine of $5,000.
These changes were approved by Vaughan City Council on March 26.
