http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_7041.aspx

I don't think anyone is going to miss him or those blitz programs.


Fantino Scraps Long Weekend Traffic Blitzes
Friday January 19, 2007

If you've watched the news on a long weekend in this province you've undoubtedly seen OPP Sgt. Cam Woolley offering amusing anecdotes about some of the worst vehicles and drivers on our roads.

But those long weekend roadside traffic blitzes - and by extension Woolley's colourful commentary - may soon be a thing of the past.

Julian Fantino, the force's no-nonsense new commissioner, says he's planning to scrap the blitzes and focus on pursuing dangerous drivers every day.

"There's nothing funny about unsafe motor vehicles or what people do out there to put the public in danger," the former Toronto Police chief said Thursday.

Fantino said he doesn't want to hear any more "humorous stories about those who compromise public safety."

"I think it trivializes the carnage and the reality of the danger that's out there."

His decision, which was written in an open letter on the force's website, comes as a surprise to many, including the provincial government.

Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield feels the blitzes have been successful in that they've raised awareness for traffic safety and the idea that if you are driving recklessly you'll get caught.

"The public awareness and education has been phenomenal," Cansfield said. "We're really, really supportive of the blitzes. We know they work and are very effective."

She said her office wasn't told of Fantino's decision.

"The whole idea is prevention," she said. "I mean, you can give somebody a ticket, but if they're dead, it's irrelevant."

The OPP commissioner insists his decision is not a slap at the media-friendly officer.

"It's not about Sgt. Woolley," said Fantino.

"It's about the OPP's vision going forward, and I'm not criticizing anything that's happened in the past. I'm just telling you the way it's going to be in the future."

Woolley insists he's not taking the change as a slap at his media appearances, and claims to be grateful he'll be able to concentrate solely on making the roads safer.

But many liked his offbeat remarks and insist it gets the right message across.

"The commissioner is probably better informed now, that it's not all about an individual or the OPP," said Brian Patterson of the Ontario Safety League, which also participates in the blitzes.

"I'm a bit of a fan of the quirky comments of the safety blitz weekends. We're fans of Sgt. Woolley's involvement.

"You can't travel on a long weekend in Ontario without hearing a number of safety messages that are a direct result of coordinating those long weekend blitzes."

Patterson said if the blitzes were going to be scrapped he hoped authorities would still be able to relay the message of being safe on the streets.

i didn't mind the blitz's at all. i thought they were good. get the heatbags off the street, whether they are soccer moms or 16y/o punks who are idiots, they certainly served a purpose and worked. sure we got some extra attention but who cares? if your car is safe and up to code then you should have no issues... its the people on here who worry about getting caught b/c they KNOW their car isn't up to code that make us look bad, NOT the police officer who gives you the ticket.

$.02 deposited

The commissioner is probably better informed now

well that's good.

Originally Posted by rough

i didn't mind the blitz's at all. i thought they were good. get the heatbags off the street, whether they are soccer moms or 16y/o punks who are idiots, they certainly served a purpose and worked. sure we got some extra attention but who cares? if your car is safe and up to code then you should have no issues... its the people on here who worry about getting caught b/c they KNOW their car isn't up to code that make us look bad, NOT the police officer who gives you the ticket.

$.02 deposited

I dont agree with you completely.. a weekend racer (track) that disconnects his pcv hose from his intake or runs an open dump tube is not automatically a heat bag.

Personally, if they were 100 x harder on the real heat bags; the ones that race around in the middle of the city with bouncy suspensions with no respect for the rules of the road, then I wouldnt have a problem.

Having the be terrified to drive my (100% "safe" and emissions legal) car to work on a Saturday because my radius rod bars slightly rub my tires at full lock is what I have a problem with. I wonder how many drivers with 'normal cars' sporting bad ball joints and tie rods would stare at my 'street racing' car as it gets loaded on a flat bed.

2point2 cents.

Originally Posted by 2point2

well that's good.



I dont agree with you completely.. a weekend racer (track) that disconnects his pcv hose from his intake or runs an open dump tube is not automatically a heat bag.

by the standards of the law it is though. keep the PCV hooked up till u get to the track and drop the exhuast at the track and no one has any issues whatsoever.

Originally Posted by 2point2

Personally, if they were 100 x harder on the real heat bags; the ones that race around in the middle of the city with bouncy suspensions with no respect for the rules of the road, then I wouldnt have a problem.

i agree

Originally Posted by 2point2

Having the be terrified to drive my (100% "safe" and emissions legal) car to work on a Saturday because my radius rod bars slightly rub my tires at full lock is what I have a problem with. I wonder how many drivers with 'normal cars' sporting bad ball joints and tie rods would stare at my 'street racing' car as it gets loaded on a flat bed.

2point2 cents.

again its just part of the safety act that everyone has to deal with. if its rubbing you and i both know that's not a good thing (albeit only .5% of the time becuase its at full lock, but never the less its not 100% *shrug*)

I know what you are saying, if the inspections were a little more random and a little less stereotyped towards what "looks" like a street racer they would catch a lot of "normal" drivers with infractions.
BUT the odds ARE in their favour when they decide to pull over a slammed civic or integra (example only, i drive a civic! LOL ) that they will find a safety issue of some kind. For that reason I really can't blame them. I'd do the same thing if i was them, pull over those who have the greatest probability of being guilty. If the people who mod thei cars got smarter and did things properly these raids would decrease against us becuase it wouldn't be a given any more. Until that happens we will be at the top of the shit list.

^^ The problem with doing things properly is it usually costs more. If you're a 18 year old working part time, buying coilovers instead of just springs will usually be too expensive. Even though just springs may lead to your shocks failing and you bouncing around out there...

"The whole idea is prevention," she said. "I mean, you can give somebody a ticket, but if they're dead, it's irrelevant."

If somebody dies, they get a dangerous driving ticket. Had they not been driving dangerously, they would not be dead now would they?

If you crash expect a ticket for something...

Originally Posted by 1ply

^^ The problem with doing things properly is it usually costs more. If you're a 18 year old working part time, buying coilovers instead of just springs will usually be too expensive. Even though just springs may lead to your shocks failing and you bouncing around out there...

WOW
I hope this is not how you go about modding your car. The person that mods his/her car as you state SHOULD get nailed to the wall for being a douchebag. If you can't afford to do something right, DON'T.

douchebag : "i'm sorry officer, i couldn't afford proper lowering springs so i just cut a few coils off..."

officer: "you're a douchebag"

Originally Posted by 1ply

^^ The problem with doing things properly is it usually costs more. If you're a 18 year old working part time, buying coilovers instead of just springs will usually be too expensive. Even though just springs may lead to your shocks failing and you bouncing around out there...

Thats the reason my car isnt low yet. I refuse to do it by just buying springs.

Originally Posted by 1ply

^^ The problem with doing things properly is it usually costs more. If you're a 18 year old working part time, buying coilovers instead of just springs will usually be too expensive. Even though just springs may lead to your shocks failing and you bouncing around out there...

this statement boggles my mind.... dont touch ur car if u cant afford to... ebay mods are the way to go.....not. instead of buying " blue led washernozzles and underglow kits" use ur brain and save up.

these kids bitch about having to pay tickets for improper mods. heres the thing. take that improper mod look at what you spent on it and look at the cost of the ticket. im sure if you put those two together it will equal more then what it would have to just save up and buy the true stuff...

it sucks that there will be no more weekend blitz's i never had an issue with them just keep ur car legal. simple as that

haha that guy is jokesssss

Originally Posted by rough

WOW
I hope this is not how you go about modding your car. The person that mods his/her car as you state SHOULD get nailed to the wall for being a douchebag. If you can't afford to do something right, DON'T.

douchebag : "i'm sorry officer, i couldn't afford proper lowering springs so i just cut a few coils off..."

officer: "you're a douchebag"

I don't know where you picked up it was him doing this. As far as I read it, hes just commenting on WHY it happens.

Originally Posted by scradley

this statement boggles my mind.... dont touch ur car if u cant afford to... ebay mods are the way to go.....not. instead of buying " blue led washernozzles and underglow kits" use ur brain and save up.

Ya... what I said above goes for your post as well...

Originally Posted by steved_97ILS

I don't know where you picked up it was him doing this. As far as I read it, hes just commenting on WHY it happens.

Exactly what I was doing. I'm a little to old for the blue washer nozzles

I've done almost nothing to the car, and at this stage in its life I'm not inclined to either.

Due to my high speed cornering what I would definitely have to start with lowering it and yes I would do it properly - I've been in cars with improperly done suspension and bouncing around in them is not fun.

And what a can of worms I opened up here.

Agreed with Rough though. Dingleberries with poorly modified cars should be pulled over. Too bad there's no fines in the HTA for "Poor taste" or there'd be a lot more money for the city

Originally Posted by steved_97ILS

Ya... what I said above goes for your post as well...

that was not directed at him and i apologize if it looks like it was.