Ottawa Police Lay 92 Charges, Clock Driver at 157 km/h in Halloween Traffic Blitz

Ottawa police laid 92 Highway Traffic Act-related charges, including two for stunt driving, during a traffic enforcement blitz in the city's east end over the Halloween weekend, the Ottawa Police Service said.

The East District Traffic Team carried out the operation on Saturday and Sunday, October 31 and November 1, 2026. Police said officers focused on impaired driving, speeding and other dangerous driving to help keep roads safe for trick-or-treaters and other road users.

Alcohol screening

Officers conducted 89 mandatory alcohol screening tests over the two days. According to police, the tests led to one warn-range licence suspension and alcohol-related charges against two novice drivers:

• A 19-year-old novice driver was charged with driving with a blood alcohol concentration above zero and received a seven-day licence suspension.
• A G2 driver was charged with impaired operation and with violating novice driver alcohol restrictions. Police said the driver registered a blood alcohol concentration nearly 1.5 times the legal limit. The driver received an immediate 90-day licence suspension and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.

Stunt driving

Police said the two stunt driving charges were laid in separate incidents:

• Blackburn Hamlet Bypass: A driver was charged with stunt driving and speeding after allegedly travelling 157 km/h.
• Walkley Road: A novice driver was charged with stunt driving after allegedly travelling 93 km/h in a 50 km/h Community Safety Zone. The driver was also charged with failing to stop for police and driving without a licence.

Both drivers received immediate 30-day licence suspensions, and their vehicles were impounded for 14 days, police said.

Reminder to drivers

Police reminded drivers that under Canada's mandatory alcohol screening laws, officers with an approved screening device may demand a roadside breath sample from a lawfully stopped driver without first suspecting the driver has been drinking. Refusing or failing to comply with a lawful demand can lead to criminal charges.

With the holiday season approaching, the service said impaired and dangerous driving are preventable. "Slow down, drive responsibly and never drive impaired," police said.

The Ottawa Police Service can be reached at 613-236-1222 (non-emergency). Residents can also register their security camera location at CAMSafe.ca to support investigations.