Reported by the Canadian Press, Ontario’s controversial street-racing legislation has claimed yet another unlikely victim – a garbage truck driver going 112 km/h in a 60 km zone. The 58 year old man from Clinton ON was pulled over in Goderich and is facing charges for racing and failing to inspect a commercial motor vehicle.

Under the strict new law enacted last fall, the man’s garbage truck as been impounded for 7 days and his license has also been suspended for that period. He also faces a fine of at least $2000. This latest development marks what is certainly a first for the OPP’s aggressive “shock and awe” campaign against speeding, and is sure to place new scrutiny on the operation of commercial vehicles.

The man will have to answer to these charges on June 5 when he appears in a Goderich court. The outcome will be an interesting one and may place a greater onus on private companies to comply to harsher measures – even if their duties require timely collections. Even if the driver’s speed was excessive, for whatever circumstances, being labeled as a ‘street racer’ seems rather dubious, considering there were no other garbage trucks jostling for the pole position.