Parking Lot Drifting = Dangerous Driving Citation?

[CATCH_M3]

Snow season is truly upon us! And with it, parking lot drifting/sliding. It is my opinion that it is very important for drivers to learn how their cars react when skidding/beyond the limit of traction for safety reasons. From my experience most drivers (definitely including me in the past), have just slammed on the brakes when faced with an emergency situation where they feel the car start rotating. Obviously this transfers weight to the front of the vehicle, lightening the rear and in many cases can initiate an uncontrollable spinout.

Although many instances are not as severe as a complete spinout, I really think it is important for drivers to be used to these sensations of surfaces with less friction where you are limited to less grip.

From my understanding, it is possibly a violation to practice these manoeuvres in parking lots that are empty if they are available to the public even if they are privately owned (ie. Malls, etc.) I think you can be cited for careless or dangerous driving as these parking lots are part of what is deemed as the 'highway' in the HTA? Even if not, can it be deemed 'dangerous driving' under the criminal code even if it is the wee hours of the morning and it is a completely empty lot (no other cars/pedestrians in the parking lot.)

Don't get me wrong; obviously people do it because it is alot of fun, in addition to the safety reasons. (Fun being more likely the higher priority). However in Nordic countries in Europe they are taught skid control at a young age. I believe in some countries, driving on the skid pad is even part of the driving test. Mika Hakkinen, one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time stated that him and others in his country learn skidding/car control very young and that is the reason why Finland, a relatively small country keeps producing amazing F1 drivers (think Kimi Raikonnen): because they are continually ahead of the game.

Anyway, sorry for this long-winded post. I was just wondering if:

1) People knew the exact laws in regards to parking lot drifting/sliding in Ontario?
2) Do you agree with those laws?

Cheers.

[Gearhead999s]

Originally Posted by CATCH_M3

Snow season is truly upon us! And with it, parking lot drifting/sliding. It is my opinion that it is very important for drivers to learn how their cars react when skidding/beyond the limit of traction for safety reasons. From my experience most drivers (definitely including me in the past), have just slammed on the brakes when faced with an emergency situation where they feel the car start rotating. Obviously this transfers weight to the front of the vehicle, lightening the rear and in many cases can initiate an uncontrollable spinout.

Although many instances are not as severe as a complete spinout, I really think it is important for drivers to be used to these sensations of surfaces with less friction where you are limited to less grip.

From my understanding, it is possibly a violation to practice these manoeuvres in parking lots that are empty if they are available to the public even if they are privately owned (ie. Malls, etc.) I think you can be cited for careless or dangerous driving as these parking lots are part of what is deemed as the 'highway' in the HTA? Even if not, can it be deemed 'dangerous driving' under the criminal code even if it is the wee hours of the morning and it is a completely empty lot (no other cars/pedestrians in the parking lot.)

Don't get me wrong; obviously people do it because it is alot of fun, in addition to the safety reasons. (Fun being more likely the higher priority). However in Nordic countries in Europe they are taught skid control at a young age. I believe in some countries, driving on the skid pad is even part of the driving test. Mika Hakkinen, one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time stated that him and others in his country learn skidding/car control very young and that is the reason why Finland, a relatively small country keeps producing amazing F1 drivers (think Kimi Raikonnen): because they are continually ahead of the game.

Anyway, sorry for this long-winded post. I was just wondering if:

1) People knew the exact laws in regards to parking lot drifting/sliding in Ontario?
2) Do you agree with those laws?

Cheers.

I dont agree with the laws at all as learning car control skills as there is no better place to learn than an empty parking lot.When I was young it was encouraged to do this and in fact our local cops watched us and depending on the officer would also get involved in our fun.But soon enough some do gooder complaned and all the fun came to an end!Pretty soon the malls enpowered the cops to charge people who "stunted" on private property.That was least 35 years ago when I was a wee young lad

[euro]

As far as I know its still a reckless driving ticket in VA

[kmac1980]

I agree it's important. Whenever I get a new car or significantly different set of tires, i'll find a deserted parking lot after a good dusting of snow to learn the car's tendencies.

If you're worried you'll get caught, there are winter driving training sessions on closed road courses pretty readily available.

As with anything else covered in the HTA, the law doesn't want to let the average joe decide when and where it is safe to do such things in your vehicle. You know that for every 4-5 people doing this safely in a wide open space with nothing in the way that there is another guy out there doing this and slamming into parked cars, light poles or even people.

[Jimmer]

Actually, it is Stunting here in Alberta. Heavy fine and points on lic.

The Government believes you should not practice on your own and only take certified courses. I believe once you have taken a course, you SHOULD practice on your own.

If you go to a open lot far away from anyone, anything and are only there for 10-15min you should be fine. If you're there for more than 30min you're probably gonna attract too much attention. That's what we suggest for our students and have never heard of anyone getting busted. Sitting doing donuts and screwing around is just asking for trouble.....

BMW of North America
Certified / Accredited Instructor

Chief In-Vehicle Instructor
Fleet Safety International
www.fleetsafetyinternational.com
Bus: 403-283-0077

[Universal_Magnetic]

to my understanding the HTA does not apply when you are on private property, so if the parking lot you are doing this on is private property (malls, etc) you should be ok...im not 100% sure though.

edit: after looking around i think you can still get cited for dangerous driving (because it is a criminal code conviction). they cant cite you for stunt though.

[jaiman]

The concern is that the street racing law in Ontario can be used here. I haven't heard of anyones car being impounded, but I seem to remember hearing about motorcylce stunters getting busted and their bikes impounded.

[Fanta]

I was told by an Ontario police officer, in a private properties, Ontario police officer cannot give out any offence ticket except parking ticket.

[euro]

If the parking lot is municipal property, like a park, schools or whatever, that's bad.

If the parking lot is private property and you don't have permission, that's bad.

and FINALLY, if the parking lot is open to traffic. Example a parking lot a car could conceivably drive into, that will get you a reckless driving ticket in VA. That is 6 points last time I checked, the same for going 20+ over the posted or anything above 80.

If you have permission on a privately owned lot and the perimeter is secured, its cool. Think a big "gate" or sanctioned autocross course where the environment is controlled by the organizers.

[Gearhead999s]

Originally Posted by Fanta

I was told by an Ontario police officer, in a private properties, Ontario police officer cannot give out any offence ticket except parking ticket.

Unless they are instructed to by the owners of the property which is usually the case..

[montreal red]

i've gotten caught by local police before for drifting in my car in a mall parking lot while with another friend in a 350z. the cop checked our license and registrations and told us that we were making a disturbance and that we shouldnt be doing this because other people would complain. then he promptly chased us away. no tickets or points or anything.