Suspended Barrie driver charged after denying he was behind the wheel

A suspended driver is facing multiple charges after trying to deny to Barrie police that he was behind the wheel.

Just after 9:15 on Monday morning, police say an officer on patrol got an alert from the cruiser's Automated Licence Plate Recognition system (ALPR) about a possible suspended driver.

Officers spotted the vehicle on Anne Street North and made a U-turn to pull it over. Even with emergency lights and sirens activated, police say the vehicle continued, weaving through traffic before turning onto Sunnidale Road and pulling into a parking lot.

When officers approached the car, they found a man in the driver's seat and a woman in the passenger seat.

Police say the man denied he had been driving, claiming the vehicle was already parked. Officers let him know they had seen the vehicle travelling on Anne Street North and turning into the lot.

The ALPR system had also captured images confirming the vehicle and its licence plate.

After further investigation, police determined the man was operating the vehicle while his licence was suspended.

A 40-year-old Barrie man was charged with driving while under suspension, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, driving a motor vehicle with no valid permit, and failing to stop when signalled by a police officer.

"ALPR technology automatically scans licence plates to confirm permits, vehicle status, and Criminal Code alerts, giving officers real-time alerts that enhance proactive policing efforts," police said in a news release. "Police remind motorists that driving while suspended and failing to stop for officers are serious offences. Anyone choosing to get behind the wheel must be licensed, insured, and in full compliance with the law."