Ontario Stunt Driving & Street Racing Laws (2026)

In Ontario, driving 40 km/h or more over the limit in a zone posted under 80 km/h, 50 km/h or more over in a zone posted 80 km/h or higher, or 150 km/h at all, gets you charged with stunt driving under Highway Traffic Act (HTA) section 172, an immediate 30-day licence suspension and 14-day vehicle impound at the roadside, before any conviction.

What Counts as Stunt Driving in Ontario

Stunt driving is a provincial offence created by section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act. The Act itself does not list what conduct qualifies; that job belongs to Ontario Regulation 455/07 (Races, Contests and Stunts), which defines both "race" and "stunt" in detail. Because the definitions are set out in a regulation rather than the Act, the list of qualifying speeds and behaviours can be updated without a full legislative bill, which is exactly what happened in 2021.

The charge is often called a "stunt driving ticket," but it is not a minor ticket. It is a serious HTA offence with roadside consequences that apply the moment an officer charges you, regardless of how the case is ultimately decided in court.

The Speed Thresholds That Trigger a Stunt Driving Charge

Most stunt driving charges in Ontario are speed-based. O Reg 455/07 sets three separate speed triggers, and hitting any one of them is enough for a charge.

The 150 km/h threshold applies no matter what the posted limit is, so a driver on a 110 km/h stretch of highway who hits 150 km/h is charged with stunt driving even though they are only 40 km/h over, because the flat 150 km/h trigger applies on top of the over-limit triggers.

Non-Speed Acts That Also Count as Stunt Driving

O Reg 455/07 defines several non-speed behaviours as stunts or races in their own right, independent of how fast the vehicle is going. These include:

• Racing another vehicle, or a contest of speed, on a highway.
• Driving with intent to cause a vehicle to spin or rotate, including doing donuts or a 360-degree turn.
• Lifting some or all tires off the roadway, such as a wheelie or a burnout that lifts the front wheels.
• Chasing another vehicle.
• Driving in a manner that prevents another vehicle from passing, including boxing in or blocking another driver.
• Driving with a person in the trunk, or outside the passenger compartment, of a moving vehicle.
• Driving too closely behind another vehicle to try to intimidate or discourage the other driver from a legal maneuver, such as changing lanes.

Because these acts do not depend on a speed reading, an officer can lay a stunt driving charge based on observed conduct alone, without any radar or lidar evidence. This matters for enforcement in parking lots, private plazas, and other areas where a speed limit sign may not be posted at all, since a non-speed stunt act can still be charged there.

Roadside Consequences: What Happens the Moment You're Charged

Stunt driving is unusual among HTA offences because serious penalties apply immediately on being charged, well before the matter goes to court. As soon as an officer lays a stunt driving charge, the driver faces:

• A 30-day driver's licence suspension, issued roadside on the spot.
• A 14-day vehicle impound, also at roadside, whether or not the driver owns the vehicle.

Both of these are administrative penalties, separate from and in addition to whatever the court later decides. Towing, storage, and impound lot fees are the driver's responsibility, and they accrue regardless of the eventual outcome of the charge. A driver who is later found not guilty does not get the suspension days or impound fees refunded.

On-Conviction Penalties

If a stunt driving charge results in a conviction, the penalties escalate well beyond the roadside consequences. A first conviction carries:

Repeat convictions increase the suspension dramatically. A second conviction carries a 3 to 10 year licence suspension, and a third conviction carries a lifetime suspension, which can be reduced after 10 years under a process to be set out in regulation. A fourth or subsequent conviction carries a lifetime suspension with no reduction available. Fines can also double inside a designated Community Safety Zone.

On top of the provincial HTA penalties, extreme cases (very high speeds, especially where death or injury results) can also draw a separate Criminal Code charge such as dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, which is a criminal offence carrying a criminal record and its own, more severe penalties.

Insurance Impact of a Stunt Driving Conviction

A stunt driving conviction does more than add demerit points; insurers treat it as one of the most serious entries a driving record can carry. Because the offence sits in the same tier as careless driving and impaired driving convictions on most insurers' rating scales, a single conviction commonly triggers a premium increase of several hundred percent, and some insurers will decline to renew a policy outright.

The combination of the roadside vehicle impound, the licence suspension, and the insurance surcharge means the real cost of a stunt driving charge extends well beyond the $2,000 to $10,000 fine range, even before factoring in towing, storage, and legal fees for contesting the charge.

The 2021 MOMS Act Changes

The current, tougher version of Ontario's stunt driving law comes from the Moving Ontarians More Safely (MOMS) Act, which took effect in stages in 2021. Two changes from that legislation matter most for drivers today:

• The under-80 km/h threshold dropped from 50 km/h over the limit to 40 km/h over the limit, meaning drivers in lower-speed zones (residential streets, many arterial roads) are now caught by the stunt driving definition at a smaller margin over the posted limit than before 2021.
• The roadside licence suspension increased from 7 days to 30 days, and the vehicle impound period doubled from 7 days to 14 days.

The MOMS Act also introduced the escalating post-conviction suspension tiers described above (1 to 3 years, 3 to 10 years, lifetime), replacing an older, less structured suspension scheme. Because these are regulatory and legislative changes rather than one-time enforcement adjustments, they apply to every stunt driving charge going forward; always check the current O Reg 455/07 text for the in-force wording before relying on a specific number.

Fighting a Stunt Driving Charge

A stunt driving charge is not a foregone conclusion. Speed-based charges depend on the accuracy and calibration of the device used (radar, lidar, or an officer's pace) and on whether the posted speed limit at the exact location was properly established. Non-speed charges depend on an officer's observation and interpretation of the driver's conduct, which can be contested.

Because a stunt driving charge triggers an immediate licence suspension and vehicle impound regardless of the eventual result, and because a conviction carries demerit points, a steep fine, and possible jail, most drivers who receive one benefit from understanding their options for fighting a traffic ticket in Canada rather than simply paying the fine. A stunt driving conviction also adds demerit points that can trigger a separate points-based suspension on top of the stunt driving penalties themselves, so the two consequences can stack.

For the full picture of how Ontario and the other provinces handle driving offences, licensing, and demerit points, see our Canada driving laws hub.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about Ontario's stunt driving and street racing laws and is not legal advice. Requirements and penalty amounts change over time; always confirm the current rules against the in-force text of Ontario Regulation 455/07 and the Highway Traffic Act, or consult a licensed paralegal or lawyer, before making decisions about a specific charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many km/h over the speed limit is stunt driving in Ontario?

It depends on the posted limit. Where the limit is under 80 km/h, 40 km/h or more over the limit is stunt driving. Where the limit is 80 km/h or higher, 50 km/h or more over is stunt driving. Regardless of the posted limit, 150 km/h or faster is always stunt driving.

What happens immediately when you're charged with stunt driving in Ontario?

Police impose a 30-day driver's licence suspension and a 14-day vehicle impound at the roadside, on the spot, before the charge goes to court. These roadside penalties apply whether or not the driver is later convicted, and towing and storage costs are the driver's responsibility.

What is the penalty for a stunt driving conviction in Ontario?

A first conviction carries a fine of $2,000 to $10,000, up to 6 months in jail, 6 demerit points, a mandatory driver improvement course, and a licence suspension of 1 to 3 years. A second conviction carries a 3 to 10 year suspension, and a third carries a lifetime suspension, reducible after 10 years.

Did Ontario change its stunt driving law recently?

Yes. The 2021 Moving Ontarians More Safely (MOMS) Act lowered the under-80 km/h speed threshold from 50 km/h over the limit to 40 km/h over, and increased the roadside licence suspension from 7 days to 30 days and the vehicle impound from 7 days to 14 days.

Is stunt driving the same as street racing in Ontario?

Racing is one specific act covered by the stunt driving offence under HTA s 172 and O Reg 455/07, but the offence covers much more than racing against another driver. It also includes speed-based triggers and other defined acts such as donuts, wheelies, chasing another vehicle, and preventing another vehicle from passing, none of which require a second racing vehicle.

Can stunt driving become a criminal charge in Ontario?

Stunt driving itself is a provincial Highway Traffic Act offence, not a Criminal Code offence. However, especially dangerous incidents, particularly ones involving injury or death, can also result in a separate Criminal Code charge such as dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, which carries its own criminal penalties on top of the HTA consequences.