York Regional Police quiets illegal car rallies
Operation Silent Night focused on bylaw enforcement in Vaughan to disrupt dangerous behaviour at car meets
Loud. Dangerous. Illegal.
Unsanctioned car rallies have been a significant nuisance in Vaughan and throughout York Region’s south end.
At these events, which involve large numbers of modified cars in parking lots, police have seen drivers performing dangerous stunts behind the wheel, often in front of spectators standing far too close to the action in an effort to capture these feats on video to share on social media.
Not only do these events pose a danger to those involved and the public in general, they extend late into the night, producing excessive noise and disturbing entire neighbourhoods.
York Regional Police partnered with the City of Vaughan in the spring of 2024 to take on unauthorized car rallies through Operation Silent Night. During the warm summer months, #4 District officers and the Road Safety Bureau patrolled areas where these rallies have traditionally popped up.
Stiff new penalties introduced by the City of Vaughan in March 2024 mean car rally participants can now face up to $10,000 in fines.
On May 23, 2024, members of the #4 District Community Oriented Response Unit came across a rally in the area of Rutherford Road and Islington Avenue. Roughly 30 vehicles were seen driving in circles around a parking lot, performing stunts, squealing tires, revving engines and playing music at extreme volumes. Forty-two bylaw infractions were observed by officers, amounting to $38,250 in fines.
2024 saw positive results in Vaughan, with the number of unsanctioned car rallies dropping from 53 in 2023 to 18 in 2024. Illegal car meets were down 7 percent across the region year-over-year as well.
“We know how disruptive these events are to residents, creating noise disturbances, property damage and road safety hazards. We are committed to working collaboratively to ensure the safety of all residents through enforcement and education,” said Chief Jim MacSween.
