Tuesday’s MetroNews article, “Doubts still riding racing law” confirm our late summer reports that the anti-racing law is still under the microscope, despite favourable statistics. Critics just aren’t buying into the positive assurances made by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Provincial police commissioner Julian Fantino that lower traffic fatalities are due to the effectiveness of this new traffic law.

It’s been over a year now that Ontario passed this street racing law and it immediately raised concerns from opponents who questioned whether these amendments are ‘unjustly punitive’ and in violation of the Charter of Rights. These questions appear to be justified based on an extremely low 33% conviction rate. MetroNews reports that one constitutional expert maintains statistics suggest critics were not off-base.

In one year, 8,459 drivers (source: Canadian Press) have been charged with street racing and 7,000 have had their licences suspended and their vehicles impounded. And no one is safe from this law – including drivers of all ages, police officers and even garbage trucks.

With a conviction rate now at 41%, fines from $2,000 to $10,000, and the threat of vehicles being impounded for a week, it should slow drivers down. TheRecord.com reports, however, that a daily average of 23 drivers caught speeding at 50 km/hr and over as compared to 40 per day from the onset of the legislation.

There have also been 100 fewer traffic-related deaths compared to the same time last year. And while there may be other factors affecting these stats, the fact remains: speed kills. OPP Constable David Woodford is firm in his belief that they are taking dangerous drivers off the road.

So what do you think, Readers, are the harsh repercussions of the Ontario racing law just, or unjust?