Hamilton police hand out more than 1,100 tickets during holiday traffic blitz

Hamilton police say they gave out more than 1,100 tickets throughout their holiday traffic safety initiative, Project Sleigh-Down.

The blitz, which ran through the month of December, targeted speeding, stunt driving and other violations, including stop signs, red lights and cellphones across the city.

The campaign was also launched the same week as the tragic death of 11-year-old Jude Strickland, who was hit by a pickup while walking home from Templemead Elementary School on Dec. 1. He died two days later of his injuries. Police have alleged the Hamilton driver didn't stop for a red light or a crossing guard before striking the boy at Upper Gage Avenue and Royal Vista Drive.

In a tweet Friday, police announced that 1,132 tickets had been handed out total during the holiday campaign - with 730 of them related to speeding.

Four drivers were ticketed for distracted driving, one drove past a school bus, 20 disobeyed a stop sign, while 18 of them disobeyed a traffic light.

Seventy-one drivers were charged with careless driving and 27 were ticketed for turn violations."

Six drivers were charged with stunt driving, police said. Two were charged the day the project was launched.

In Ontario, under the Highway Traffic Act, stunt driving includes going 50 km/h above the speed limit. Drivers face an automatic seven-day driver's licence suspension and their vehicle is impounded. If convicted, they could face fines between $2,000 and $10,000 and up to six months in jail.

Throughout the project, 25 licences were also suspended and 230 others were charged for other offences," according to police.

Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com