The Surête du Québec intercepted this Ontario-plated Lexus IS 300 Saturday on Highway 15 near Blainville. According to the owner, Matt Brunet who lives in the Ottawa area, the police stopped him because of the “Hellaflush” look of his vehicle (stretched tires, high negative camber).
The officer informed Brunet that he had called for a second officer (presumably one more informed with regard to modified vehicles) to come and inspect the vehicle. Upon arriving, the second officer said he was not going to let him leave and that the vehicle would either be impounded or towed out of province. Obviously the second option was chosen and that put an end to Brunet’s trip where was going to attend the Low Level car show in St-Hyacinthe. His wheels are 18×9.5 and the tires are 215/40/18.
The increased severity to which Quebec is cracking down on modified vehicles is catching many enthusiasts off guard. Over the last few weeks, there have been many stories of cars being stopped and towed on the spot due to stretched tires.
Some local business are voicing concern that this increased police scrutiny will kill off an entire industry. Many auto enthusiasts from outside Quebec visit the province for events such as the Eurokracy or Car Fever auto shows. The owners of these events have expressed real concern that their attendance will take a big hit.
It remains to be seen just how far this crackdown will go. The best thing you can do for now is ensure that your vehicle complies with the law. You may read more about Quebec law in this pdf document.
