A woman is facing charges after what Grey County OPP are calling a case of ‘seat belt rage’.
Constable Steve Starr says the 45 year old was pulled over around 8 PM Thursday on Paul Street in Meaford for not wearing her seatbelt.
When told why she’d been pulled over – the woman reportedly became highly agitated.
She screamed, threw her documents on the ground, shoved the police officer, and indicated she was going to leave the scene.
Eventually she was placed under arrest and taken to hospital out of concern for what police call her volatile and irrational behaviour.
Constable Starr says “Clearly, someone assaulting a police officer over a minor traffic offence is acting irrationally”.
The 45 year old from the Blue Mountains has been charged with the Highway Traffic Act offence of failing to wear her seatbelt.
Additionally she also faces the Criminal Code charges of Assault Police and Resist Arrest.
She is scheduled to appear in Owen Sound court on June 24th.
In a recent media release — Grey County OPP warned the public about the
increased fine with regard to seat belt infractions (total cost $240.00) and the fact that two demerit points are also added to the drivers’ licence.
Starr says officers have noted an increase in motorists venting on them after being charged with a seat belt offence, largely because of the increased fine.
He would like it to be noted that the police do not create legislation or set the amount of fines, but they do enforce the law.
