TORONTO -- Toronto police say spring fever or possibly the combination of alcohol and fast cars may be the reason for an "unprecedented spike" in stunt driving in the city.
This past weekend saw 11 arrests in Toronto for the offence of stunt driving -- defined as travelling 50 kilometres or more over the speed limit.
Acting Supt. Gord Jones says those arrested ranged in age from 18 to 44 and that in many of the cases, alcohol was also a factor.
He says in one case, a BMW was clocked early Monday travelling at 185 kilometres an hour on the Gardiner Expressway, where the speed limit is 100 km/h.
A 32-year-old Hamilton man was charged with stunt driving, speeding and being over the legal limit for alcohol while operating a motor vehicle.
In another incident early Saturday, a 26-year-old Beeton, Ont., man was charged after a 2009 Porsche Cayenne was clocked at 181 km/h, also on the Gardiner Expressway.
Jones said stunt driving is an issue all across Ontario, with 45 charges over the past weekend across the province.
Under provincial legislation, police can immediately suspend the driver's licence of a person accused of stunt driving for seven days and also impound the vehicle for seven days, in addition to fines and other measures upon conviction.
"It's a privilege to drive, not a right," said Jones.
"If you make a choice to drive aggressively, to drive impaired, to drive distracted or without a seatbelt on Toronto roads and choose to risk the safety of all road users, we will be there and we will get you."
