Okay. Not really.

This post is just a short rant about the new speeding/racing laws in Ontario, and the complaints people have about them.

Since most of my readers are drivers as well, you should all be aware of this new legislation that states that if you exceed the speed limit by 50km/h, you will lose your license and have your car impounded for seven days.

For some reason, people believe this is both fair and unfair. They claim that it is good because it punishes illegal street racing, and ultimately cuts down on reckless driving and endangerment. And this is true. That has already been proven. However, these same people argue that it is unfair to force this law upon “good-hearted citizens” who are just going about their daily routine. They claim the law is too tough and should only apply to racing.

50km/h above the speed limit is the same speed whether you are racing or not. Any person can still lose control at this speed, and 50km/h above the speed limit is just reckless to begin with. Why on Earth are you going that fast? I don’t buy the whole excuse that this should apply to racers only, and not your average citizen. You are speeding. Deal with the consequences, or change your method of driving. The law is the law.

Recently, there has been talk of changing that legislation so that you will be subjected to this punishment if you exceed the speed limit by 30km/h. Is this unreasonable? Not at all. You are still speeding. 5km/h above or below the speed limit is okay, because it is hardly noticeable. But when you get to driving extremely fast, you also get reckless. And if taking your car away for a week will teach you a lesson, I am in full support of it.

They talked about this issue on CFRB 1010 this morning, and Christie Blacheford (sp?) of the Globe and Mail commented that this new “30km/h above” legislation was unthinkable, and that the existing legislation already made it as if we were living in a “police state”. A police state. I kid you not, she actually said that.

Talk about an overexageration. When police officers are enforcing existing laws, how can you say that is bad? They are making the roads safer. They are punishing reckless behaviour, and - traditionally - punishment can help lead to reform. If this were actually a police state, I think speeding would be the least of our concerns. In fact, CB would probably have been arrested and had a bag thrown over her head before she finished her commentary.

Last I checked, the “right to speed and endanger others in a giant, explosive, metallic object didn’t appear on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Speeding is dangerous. Deal with it. Drive safer. Leave earlier, or deal with being later. Your choice.