Kingston Police officers were among 26 officers from across Ontario who took part in specialized training in Waterloo and a vehicle enforcement sweep in Kitchener on May 22, 2026. The officers stopped 42 vehicles, laid 142 Highway Traffic Act charges, and seized 17 sets of licence plates during the four-hour effort.
The initiative was part of the Modified and Unsafe Vehicle Enforcement Course, hosted by the Waterloo Regional Police Service. The training gives officers the skills to spot unsafe vehicle modifications that endanger drivers and pedestrians.
Kingston Police said in a release on May 27 that two drivers were charged with operating while under suspension, and one person was arrested on an outstanding warrant. The 142 charges covered a range of violations under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
The course, now in its fourth year, was developed by Waterloo Regional Police constables Wayne Mercer and Nick Koomans. Since 2023, it has trained dozens of officers from multiple Ontario police services. Kingston’s participation shows a growing province-wide push to get unsafe vehicles off the road.
Kingston Police have been busy with traffic enforcement at home, too. Over the Victoria Day long weekend from May 15 to 18, the traffic safety unit issued 129 Provincial Offence Notices and 34 warnings. That included two stunt driving charges that led to automatic 30-day licence suspensions and 14-day vehicle impoundments.
Fines for vehicle modification violations can range from $110 for a faulty tire to $365 for a muffler that exceeds emissions standards. Commercial vehicle fines are doubled. Police remind drivers that many aftermarket parts sold online may not meet Ontario’s safety rules, and it is up to the owner to make sure their vehicle is legal.
