A speeding motorist claimed he was "just testing out his new exhaust system" the evening of April 29, after a Chestermere Peace Officer stopped him for driving more than 120 kilometres-an-hour over the speed limit.
According to the City of Chestermere, the peace officer was monitoring the 23500 block of Range Road 284 on the western edge of the lakeside community, when he observed a small white vehicle travelling north at a very high rate of speed.
A press release from the municipality indicates the vehicle was "recklessly passing other northbound vehicles, with complete disregard for the safety of other road users."
The posted speed limit of Range Road 284 is 80 kilometres-an-hour. According to the City, the peace officer's radar detector reported the driver reached a top speed of 205 kilometres-an-hour before levelling out at 199 kilometres-an-hour.
The driver chose to stop without incident, the release stated, and was subsequently arrested. His reasoning for driving that fast was because he wanted to test out his new exhaust system.
“Travelling at these speeds is outrageous, it not only shows the wanton disregard for their own safety, but other members of the public. This could have ended so tragically in a split second for someone who was just heading home on a Friday afternoon” said Chestermere Peace Officer Sgt. Trever Bowman.
The male driver from Calgary, now faces several charges under the Traffic Safety Act, and is scheduled to appear in Strathmore Provincial Court in July.
