A BC novice driver has received over $800 in fines, two different driving prohibitions and had their vehicle impounded for allegedly driving while impaired through a national park.
The driver was stopped earlier this month while officers were patrolling for excessive speeding and dangerous driving as a part of the BC Highway Patrol’s Summer Impaired Driving campaign.
According to the BCHP, the campaign is in response to a summer spike in traffic along Highway 1 through national and provincial parks like Yoho National Park.
The novice driver, a 24-year-old man from Williams Lake, was stopped on July 4 after being caught driving 168 km/h in a 90 zone through the park.
When officers stopped the pickup truck, they found the driver had four passengers inside.
The officer demanded a roadside breathalyzer test, which resulted in two failed readings.
As a result the driver’s truck was impounded and towed at his expense. The man was handed an immediate 90-day roadside prohibition as well as a five-month driving prohibition.
He was also handed a fine of $483 for excessive speeding, a $109 fine for failing to display his “N” sign and two additional $109 fines for driving contrary to his licence restrictions, including having too many passengers and driving with alcohol in his system.
“Our officers feel like we are pulling people over moments before catastrophe, especially when drivers are speeding through national parks and construction zones,” says Cpl. Michael McLaughlin.
A second vehicle was also stopped for excessive speeding through the park.
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A BCHP officer nabbed a Tesla hitting 148 km/h in a 90 zone on Hwy 1 through Yoho.
Details are sparse, however, any driver caught driving 40 km/h over the speed limit can face a $368 fine along with a seven-day impoundment for a first offense.
That is followed by a 30-day impound for a second offense within two years and 60 days for any subsequent offence within a two year period.
“Summer is always a busy season on the Trans Canada, but we all need to obey the speed limit and drive with more caution,” McLaughlin added.
