Re: “Comments said ‘disturbing’ (W. Graham, Orangeville December 10/09)

I thank the editor of the Orangeville Citizen/Shelburne Free Press for publishing my open letter to editors regarding Section 172 (December 3, 2009) and the success of the OPP’s Provincial Traffic Safety Program (PTSP).

A year-over-year fatality reduction of 29 percent or 131 lives saved is testament to the efforts of our dedicated officers and highly-visible vehicles.

I find it necessary to answer W. Graham’s concerns (December 10, 2009) regarding charges under Section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) and comments regarding the OPP’s use of unmarked vehicles.

The writer is quite correct...the OPP is not ‘the law’. I remind all readers and motorists the OPP is mandated to enforce the law as written by those who develop and implement legislation. It is important to note that the recent court decisions apply only to those specific cases and are not binding. There is no declaration or order by the court of invalidity in relation to Section 172.

Thus the OPP will continue to enforce the laws made available to us to save lives, including Section 172. This includes removing reckless drivers and their vehicles from the road immediately — as we do with impaired drivers — to preserve the safety of responsible drivers and their families.

The OPP remains convinced that the presence of highly-visible, engaged traffic officers is one of the most effective methods of mitigating high-risk driving behaviour.

The deployment of unmarked cruisers is another tool with which to enforce the law. I can assure you that, as a percentage of the OPP’s fleet of vehicles, the number of unmarked vehicles in service actually decreased slightly over the last few years.

During that period, we have deployed silhouette decaled cruisers with standard light bars and whose markings are visible at night to, again, enhance public and officer safety.

I would advise the best way to avoid the scrutiny of our officers - in marked or unmarked vehicles - and the potential penalties is to obey the law and adjust your driving practices accordingly.

Julian Fantino Commissioner — Ontario

Provincial Police