Teen races pickup down Fourth Line

CITY POLICE

NEWS RELEASE

************************* Dangerous driving, racing

Officers with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service arrested a 16-year-old male at 4:15 p.m. yesterday on Aronson Drive and charged him with one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and one count of racing a motor vehicle.

It is alleged that on the 14th of June the accused was operating a 1996 Chevy GM pickup truck eastbound on Fourth Line West when officers conducting radar enforcement clocked the vehicle travelling at 120 kilometres an hour in a 50 kilometre-an-hour zone.

Further, officers observed the vehicle swerving in and out of oncoming traffic and at the time pedestrians were walking in the area.

Officers stopped the vehicle on Aronson Drive and the accused was subsequently arrested.

The accused is to appear in court on the 19th of July.

************************* Theft reports

- A construction trailer was entered between the 30th of May and the 3rd of June. A nail driver, a generator and some scraps of steel were reported stolen. - A number of vehicles were entered throughout the city. Numerous items that had been left inside were taken, come included: keys, change, purses, stereos, a laptop, an iPod, cash, GPS units, medication, a Visa card.

************************* Vehicle break-in prevention

Once again, City Police would like to remind the public to lock their doors, park in busy, well-lit areas and do not leave valuables inside your vehicle.

If you leave items in your vehicle and they're visible, the chances your vehicle will get broken into increase greatly.

Very few auto break-ins are "random."

The thieves usually see something out in the open.

Valuable items that thieves target are GPS units, MP3 players, laptops, money, purses, wallets, packages and so forth.

If you can't take the items with you, secure them in a safe place in your vehicle, like a locked glove compartment or your trunk.

Alarms or anti-theft devices work: Thieves are usually looking for the "easiest" target.

If your car has an alarm, it could act as a deterrent.

But don't make this common mistake: Just because you have an alarm, doesn't mean thieves won't break in.

Police ask the public if they see anyone suspicious or that appear to be checking vehicles, please contact them immediately.

If you have any information regarding these crimes or any other crime, call Crime Stoppers at 942-7867 or 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS); submit an e-tip from the Crime Stoppers web site at www.saultcrimestoppers.com or text keyword SSM with your tip to 274637.

************************* So you own an off-road vehicle?

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police have recently received several complaints concerning the driving of off-road vehicles, such as dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATV’s), within the City and Prince Township.

As a result, enforcement of the Highway Traffic Act with regards to these vehicles will be carried out by officers with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police.

Laws regarding off-road vehicles

The Highway Traffic Act prohibits anyone from driving an off-road vehicle on a highway except as allowed by municipal bylaws.

The City of Sault Ste. Marie does not have a bylaw permitting all-terrain vehicles to be driven on city streets, and as such, the driving of an off-road vehicle on a city street is prohibited.

Anyone found in contravention will be charged under the Highway Traffic Act.

The Township of Prince has a bylaw which allows for all-terrain vehicles (ATV's) to be driven on township roads.

As per the bylaw, an ATV is an off-road vehicle that:

(a) Has four wheels, the tires of all of which are in contact with the ground

(b) Has steering handlebars,

(c) Has a seat that is designed to be straddled by the driver, and

(d) Is designed to carry a driver only and no passengers.

The operator must also have a valid drivers licence and insurance.

The bylaw has a speed limit of 20 km/h on roads that have a speed limit of 50 km/h and 50km/h on those roads that have a speed limit greater than 50 km/h.

No other types of off-road vehicles are permitted on township roads.

The public is reminded that according to the Highway Traffic Act a nighway is defined as follows: “highway” includes a common and public highway, street, avenue, parkway, driveway, square, place, bridge, viaduct or trestle, any part of which is intended for or used by the general public for the passage of vehicles and includes the area between the lateral property lines thereof.

For the purpose of rural roads the highway also includes the area from tree line to tree line.

Questions can be directed to Sergeant Ray Magnan of Traffic Services at 705-949-6300, extension 348.

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