Charges laid in traffic-snarling motorcycle stunts

TORONTO — An investigation into a series of motorcycle stunts that snarled traffic on major highways in and around the Toronto area this summer has led to 48 charges, provincial police announced Wednesday.

In announcing the charges against more than 10 people, police displayed video and some of the five motorbikes they seized during search warrants executed this week

“The danger these riders presented to themselves and to the unsuspecting drivers they distracted, cut off, or totally stopped in live lanes is beyond belief,” Supt. Alison Jevons said. “These stunts that self-servingly fuel their egos needed to be stopped before anyone was killed or maimed.”

In August, investigators appealed for dashcam video or photographs of the bikers as they looked into a large group of motorcyclists who had caused major traffic disruptions on about 20 different occasions.

They said motorists had complained about dozens of bikers on sport bikes riding on a Sunday afternoon in an aggressive manner across all lanes and even coming to a full stop to perform various stunts and wheelies. The incidents were videoed by some of the riders and posted to various social media channels.

The stunts occurred during a period when carnage involving motorcycles was particularly high and the subject of repeated road safety warnings, police said. The same subculture of riders has been known to refuse to stop and have swarmed police officers in a threatening manner, they said.

Police said seven of 10 people charged with offences such as dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and fleeing an officer had already appeared in court while officers were searching for three others charged. Additionally, some of those accused and others are charged with offences such as driving with a suspended licence.