Road Watch is a safe way to respond to observations of aggressive driving behavior.  And, by doing so you may actually cause a change in behavior.  (Aggressive  driving includes speeding, unsafe lane changes,unsafe passing, disobeying traffic signs and signals.)

If/when you observe an act of aggressive driving in York Region note the license plate, general details of car, date and location; then report it on line at www.yrp.ca.

Then….the registered owner of the car will receive a letter reviewing the incident.

If this same owner is reported on a second time, another letter will be sent and there will be a phone call from a police officer.

If this same owner is reported on a third time, a police officer will make a visit and appropriate action will be taken.

So how does this change behavior?

Imagine if you are a parent receiving the letter and the incident is a date when a Son or Daughter had borrowed the car.  It’s an opportunity for a conversation. 

Or, imagine receiving a letter and the identified location of the incident is just down the street from your home.  I have been told that a large portion of speeders in neighbourhoods ( i.e. within the subdivision) are the people living in the subdivision.

York Region Police reviewed the program with Council 4/30.  Very importantly, the program has significantly improved since its early days as a result of internet:  now, within 7 days of the report the letters etc. to the registered owners are out.  Originally it was a paper system and inevitably the time lag was too long.

An incident cannot be reported anonymously; but, identity of the reporter is never shared.