Mar. 23, 2006. 01:00 AM
STAN JOSEY
STAFF REPORTER

Durham Region residents are being cautioned not to carry their kids' toy guns in the car after a Whitby father was involved in a high-risk takedown during a routine traffic stop this week.

Sgt. Jeff Galipeau said several traffic officers and a thirtysomething Whitby man became involved in a "very stressful situation" when his son's "realistic looking" toy pistol fell out of the glove compartment when the man was going for his documents.

Durham Region police have been at the forefront of a campaign to make it illegal for those under 18 to possess imitation or toy guns that look like the real thing.

But the campaign, which would see the offence punishable by a $150 fine, has been meeting with mixed reaction at municipal councils in Durham.

The new bylaw, has won the support of Durham Region council, and politicians in Scugog, Uxbridge, Whitby and Clarington.

But Pickering city council last Monday voted 5-2 not to outlaw them in the municipality.

A majority of councillors felt the new law was "overkill" and would deny kids the freedom to play with toys of choice.

"There already are legitimate criminal laws that limit the use of realistic-looking guns," said Councillor Kevin Ashe. "We thought that criminalizing toys just went a bit too far."

"This was the perfect instance to illustrate the intense pressure police are under when dealing with look-alike weapons," Galipeau said about the incident with the thirtysomething man in an interview.

Erring on the side of safety, officers initially treated the situation as if the weapon was real.

Just as on TV, the officers drew their guns and took cover behind their vehicles, and ordered the man to keep his hands in view as he slowly got out of the vehicle and assumed a prone position on the ground. He was then handcuffed with the real guns pointed in his direction while other officers slowly and carefully inspected the toy gun on the floor.

When it was determined to be a toy, the speeding ticket was written and the man, shaken, but apparently no worse for wear, was allowed to go home.

"These situations are totally avoidable," Galipeau said. "In light of recent developments in the region, Durham Regional Police are urging drivers not to carry replica handguns in their cars."