Police Crack Down on Unsanctioned Car Meets in Guelph

Warmer weather is bringing car enthusiasts back out across Ontario, but not every gathering is welcome. Guelph Police say they’re already seeing signs of a growing problem tied to unsanctioned meets.

Disclaimer: File photo – simulated image used to illustrate the incident.

The arrival of warmer weather traditionally ushers in car season, when car and truck enthusiasts want to gather to show off their classic and modified rides.

The majority of these enthusiasts do so in a safe and family-friendly manner. However, in recent years police services across Ontario have seen an increase in large, unsanctioned “take-over” meets, in which drivers gather on private property without the owner’s permission and engage in dangerous and illegal behaviour.

The Guelph Police Service is committed to enforcing safe driving behaviour and will not tolerate such gatherings.

On Saturday night, April 18, our officers were aware of a large gathering of modified pick-up trucks scheduled to be held in the city. After a previous gathering hosted by the same organizers in a neighbouring municipality, videos posted online depicted dangerous and stunt driving. The private property used for that event sustained extensive damage from burn-outs and drifting.

Officers attended a south-end parking lot Saturday night where they located more than 100 trucks participating in an unsanctioned gathering. Officers interacted with the drivers and conducted vehicle inspections, which led to two trucks being taken off the road for equipment violations.