Penalties going up for speeding, stunting and street racing in Saskatchewan

The province is taking steps to keep fast and furious drivers out of their cars and off the roads.

According to SGI, the fines for stunting, street racing and speeding well over the limit were all increased in 2022 and as of May 1 they will also carry longer vehicle impoundments and licence suspensions as well.

“Drivers caught stunting, street racing, exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 (kilometres per hour) or double the posted limit will receive a 30-day vehicle impoundment and immediate seven-day licence suspension,” SGI explained in a statement.

The penalties add up quickly, the insurer noted.

“In addition to the fines, demerits and inconvenience of losing a licence and use of a vehicle, the registered owner of the impounded vehicle is responsible for the towing and storage fees,” SGI added. “At the end of the suspension term, the customer will have to visit a motor licence issuer to have their driver’s licence reprinted for a fee.”

Drivers with multiple traffic convictions will also be sanctioned under the Driver Improvement Program, SGI noted.

While the legislation will change this Friday, SGI said enforcement of the new penalties will not begin until May 1.

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Dustin Duncan, the minister responsible for SGI, said the “tough” new penalties are meant to discourage some of the most dangerous types of driving behaviour.

“Those dangerous activities put all road users at risk, and they have no place in our communities or on our highways,” Duncan said in a statement.

Stunting, which is included under the new penalties, can apply to a number of actions on the road, SGI explained. Those can include:

• Attempting to lift some or all tires from the roadway;
• Attempting to spin a vehicle in a circle;
• Driving while not in the driver’s seat;
• Driving in the oncoming lane longer than necessary to overtake;
• Driving in a way that prevents others from overtaking; and
• Stopping or slowing so as to interfere with the movement of another vehicle.

More information can be found on SGI’s website.