Highway Nap Lands Ottawa Cabbie in Legal Trouble

An Ottawa taxi driver is facing criminal charges after allegedly pulling over on Highway 417 to take a nap early Monday morning — on Canada Day.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were called around 6:00 a.m. after reports of a vehicle stopped on the side of the highway near Bronson Avenue. When officers arrived, they found the taxi driver appearing to be asleep behind the wheel.

Police say the driver refused to provide a roadside breath sample, triggering a criminal charge for failure or refusal to comply with a demand, as outlined in the Criminal Code of Canada.

In addition, the driver was charged under the Highway Traffic Act for illegally stopping on a prohibited section of the highway.

The individual is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa later this month.

The incident adds to growing concerns around impaired driving and public safety on long weekends.