A high-profile speeding case from last spring has finally worked its way through the Ontario courts, and the offending rider is paying big time, with jail time.
The incident occurred in May, when a motorcyclist was apprehended after leading police on a high-speed chase along Queen Elizabeth Way. The rider hit speeds of more than 200 km/h after fleeing a traffic stop. Police were running extra traffic enforcement due to it being Victoria Day weekend, and ended up using an airplane to track the rider as he blew through traffic. Police cars gave up the chase due to the high speeds involved, but the aircraft continued to follow the motorcyclist to his home.
As a result, the cops finally caught up with Igor Matej, of Hamilton, and arrested him.
In a January court appearance, Matej pleaded guilty on charges of charges of flight from police and driving while disqualified—turned out he’d already lost his licence over a dangerous driving conviction in 2014.
This week, Matej received a 90-day jail sentence for his behaviour, and also earned another three-year driving suspension.
Ride to the conditions and the laws of physics, use your head and common sense. Don’t speed around in town, or on very busy long weekend highways. I can take you places where I might see one vehicle every 20 minutes. I can guarantee that if I go too fast and crash I am not going to hurt the massive tree trunks beside the road. As long as I am not going to hurt anyone or anything else then I am going to ride the speed that I choose, not according to speed limits that are designed for the slowest, worst handling vehicle on the road. I am always hearing how long it takes a tractor trailer to stop. So if I can stop in 1/4 (or less) of the distance, well then we should not allow tractor trailers to go over 50 kph, anywhere, ever. Do we do that?? I would think that as riders we can and should understand the basic laws of physics. Yes, the track is for riding at the limit, but my personal areas are safer and I make the rules. I ride 35-40 K km per year, so far I am doing ok. Live and let live, to each their own, screw the ninnies and nancys. Like many drivers in southern Van Isl. Oh yes, an old, almost dead person who can’t see through their cataracts is just fine driving. I know of which I speak, I was driving with my mother who was an excellent driver, until she got dementia. She almost took a rider out, we were behind him in an 80 zone, my Mom would start talking and speed up and I would have to tell her to stop before she hit the rider. Do you know how many Canadians have dementia (or many other conditions) and are still driving? As a doctor and a rider I can tell you that the numbers are scary and it is very hard to take the keys away. Drive defensively and stay away from other people. C
Apparently he was also riding with no plate.
So the police said, which no doubt contributed to the initial stop.
Jackass got what he deserved….go to the track if you want to speed. Otherwise, drive the limit
Limit-ish. 😉
Yes sir captain safety. Point is he was suspended despite your dudley do right comments most of us speed a little sometimes and I stress a little. Maybe you don’t and you live your entire life doing what the government says that you can but the majority do not.
Yep. I think he shouldn’t have run from the cops and/or put others in danger, but I am not gonna throw anyone under the bus because they enjoy riding fast.
Labour day is in September, was he an idiot in May or September?
Errrr, I’ll leave the jokes about aside here and say I MEANT to type Victoria Day
Seems a little harsh, when you consider that drivers who kill motorcyclists while breaking the traffic laws seem to get significantly lower penalties. OTOH, the guy was riding on an already suspended license.
So was the lady who got 14 days for seriously injuring a rider in BC