Reminder: Unauthorized car rallies are not allowed in Vaughan!

Avoid charges of up to $10,000 

The City of Vaughan continues to prioritize public safety for everyone who lives in, works in and visits Vaughan. As part of this commitment, in April 2024, Vaughan became one of the first cities in Ontario to take a strong stance and prohibit unauthorized car rallies. The City is reminding everyone that unauthorized car rallies are illegal and may result in a charge of up to $10,000.

Unauthorized car rallies are disruptive to everyone’s quality of life and pose a significant risk to the community. These events often come with excessive noise, speeding, stunt driving and blocking or impeding motor or pedestrian traffic. 

Unauthorized car rallies typically involve people gathering with their modified vehicles to do stunts and take over private property, like parking lots or roads. These events do not have a permit or permission from the City to take place.

In 2024, the City amended its Special Events By-law (PDF) to prohibit any participation in unauthorized car rallies, including:

• sponsoring, collecting money for, co-ordinating, advertising or hosting a car rally.
• spectating, attending or bringing a vehicle to a car rally.
• driving or riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle at a car rally.
• stopping, slowing or impeding the movement of traffic, including pedestrian traffic, as a consequence of a car rally.
• being a vendor at a car rally.

The maximum charge associated with participating in, or having a motor vehicle at, an unauthorized car rally is $10,000, and the City and York Regional Police (YRP) can also issue administrative penalties of $1,000 for a first offence and $2,000 for any subsequent offence. This includes anyone sponsoring, collecting money for, co-ordinating, advertising, hosting or being a vendor. Any person spectating, attending or riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle at an unauthorized car rally may be charged up to $10,000 or may receive an administrative penalty of $500.

The Noise By-law (PDF) was also amended in 2024 to prohibit anyone from emitting, causing or permitting noise from an unauthorized car rally. 

The maximum charge associated with breaking the Noise By-law is $5,000. Those who violate this by-law as it relates to a car rally may be charged or receive an administrative penalty of $1,000 for a first offence and $2,000 for any subsequent offence. 

In collaboration with YRP, the City will continue to work with local plaza owners to outline their role and responsibilities pertaining to the by-laws, and how they can help deter unauthorized car rally events from taking place on their properties.

In 2023, 1,206 penalty notices were issued for car rallies, followed by 83 notices in 2024 and one notice so far in 2025. Between 2023 and 2024, Vaughan experienced a 66 per cent decrease in unsanctioned car meets and a 39 per cent decrease in calls for service relating to street racing and car meets. Let’s all continue to do our part to keep Vaughan safe!

To report a suspected unauthorized rally, excessive noise or loitering, call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281. If you have any concerns for public safety at any time, call 9-1-1 immediately.

To learn more, visit vaughan.ca/CarRallies.

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