We aren't stunt drivers. Honest. We just drive fast

SooToday.com has received the following note from Croix Justin Alexander Wright of Surrey, British Columbia and William Baque of Brampton, Ontario.

As reported last week, the two were charged in Laird Township with stunt driving and had their vehicles impounded. ************************* After reading reports of our recent brush with the law which paint us with the laughable label of "street racers," we would like to report on the other half of our unfortunate predicament.

The long and short of the situation is as simple as this: we are moving across the country for employment; we were stopped over for speeding; now we are left without vehicles and licences for seven days in what would have normally resulted in a prompt fine and wave goodbye.

One of the charged, Croix Justin Alexander Wright, arrived in Toronto from Surrey, British Columbia to help his friend - and “accomplice“ - William Baque and Baque‘s girlfriend move from Toronto to a new home and job in Surrey.

The group left Toronto at 9 a.m. in separate vehicles - Baque and his girlfriend in his BMW, and Wright driving the girlfriend’s red Oldsmobile - both packed to capacity with Baque and his girlfriend’s belongings.

At roughly 7:45 p.m., as both vehicles were approaching the straight stretch before climbing Pumpkin Point Hill, Wright - driving the red Oldsmobile - decided to pass Baque‘s BMW.

While passing Baque, Wright was pulled over by an on-duty OPP officer.

Seeing their friend was being pulled over, Baque and his girlfriend pulled over as well.

The officer first approached Baque and his girlfriend, asking how fast they thought they were travelling. However, before they could answer, they were quickly told their vehicle had been clocked at 145 kilometres an hour.

The officer then approached Wright and proceeded with the same line of questioning.

Admittedly speeding, Wright told the officer he was travelling 135 kilometres an hour - to which the officer informed Wright he was also clocked at 135 kilometres an hour.

That said, both vehicles were clocked at the exact same speed; yet the lead vehicle driven by Wright was in the process of passing Baque as they were stopped.

The officer then informed both Wright and Baque that under the new highway laws, he could charge them both with street racing and/or stunt driving.

The officer also proceeded to tell Wright and Baque that: “this is not Toronto, or Vancouver, where you can drive 110 kilometres on the highway - this is Northern Ontario.”

He informed the drivers that if he wanted, he could suspend both of their licenses and impound their vehicles for one week.

The officer then went back to his patrol vehicle where he deliberated his options for 45 minutes.

During this time Wright, Baque, and Baque’s girlfriend could do little but wait outside their vehicles, packed with all of their belongings, and hope they could still make it to Surrey for their first day of work.

After 15 minutes of waiting, a local police cruiser had arrived to assist the OPP officer - and proceeded to offer the drivers coffee and tea.

When the officer came out of his vehicle again, he informed Baque and Wright that they have been charged with stunt driving, and their licences have been suspended for one week - during which time their vehicles (and belongings) would be impounded.

When the drivers asked if there is anything the officer could do to help them out - as it was obvious that they were not ‘stunt drivers’ (although they could have stuffed the vehicles with clothing and furniture for better traction); however, the officer reiterated that they were no longer in Southern Ontario and this wasn’t the 401.

Wright, Baque, and Baque‘s girlfriend - days away from their new home and job - were left on Highway 17 by the officer with no place to go and no way to get there.

The other ’support’ cruiser and both tow-truck drivers on-scene offered the group a ride into town, where they ended up staying the night at a relative of one of the tow-truck drivers.

At this point the three drivers, with all of their money tied up in their move, are stranded in Sault Ste. Marie as they await the release of their vehicles and licenses, only to return in May to each face $2,000 in charges, or the possibility of six months in jail.

Signed,

- Croix Justin Alexander Wright - William Baque

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