A 20-year-old man was pulled over in Montreal early Friday morning for allegedly driving more than three times the speed limit in a BMW sport utility vehicle.
Sgt. Genevieve Bruneau of the Surete du Quebec told CTV.ca the young man was clocked at 240 kilometres per hour, in a 70 km/h zone.
The man was travelling on Highway 720 at about 3 a.m. when he passed by police officers conducting a speed monitoring operation.
The driver pulled over as soon as police pulled out behind him, and came to a stop just before the entrance to the Ville Marie Tunnel.
Bruneau said police issued a ticket for $2,598, suspended the man's license and had the vehicle towed.
He also received 42 demerit points. After 15 points, drivers in Quebec are effectively unable to obtain or maintain a licence.
Bruneau would not confirm nor deny reports that the man works as a valet at a nearby hotel.
"The only thing I can tell you is that we gave him a ticket, but we are not currently investigating a theft," she said.
Bruneau said new laws in Quebec allow police to double set fines and demerit points when excessive speeds are reached, such as in this case.
Officers are also able to immediately suspend the driver's license for seven days.
Police can impose even harsher penalties on a second offence.
