Kootenay BC Highway Patrol issued over $105K in fines to 177 uninsured drivers

Nearly 200 drivers were issued tickets for driving without insurance in eastern BC last month.

From Dec. 1 to Jan. 11, the BC Highway Patrol issued 177 drivers for operation insurance vehicles between Dec. 1 and Jan. 11.

Each driver got a ticket totalling $598.

Not only did the BCHP see a “shocking” number of drivers without valid insurance, they got some interesting excuses including being told ICBC already told them to renew their insurance or that they were on the way to purchase insurance.

Other excuses include:

• I forgot.

• I don’t have a decal anymore.

• My insurance is paid for automatically, so I thought I didn’t need to renew.

• The registered owner is my mom, dad or friend and it’s their job.

• This is a company vehicle.

• My vehicle is actually insured, but I don’t have the documents.

• I cancelled the credit card that was making the preauthorized payments.

• I know I don’t have insurance, but I really needed to go somewhere.

“Drivers should think about the risks of operating without insurance which include paying a significant fine, being financially responsible for a collision, and expensive towing costs,” says the Officer in Charge of Kootenay Highway Patrol, Inspector Chad Badry.

“There is a risk of a driver’s license suspension or increased sanctions in court for repeat offences.”

The BCHP reminds people that they need to renew their own insurance as it is not automatically renewed, drivers should check the expiry on their driver’s documents and renewal notices are only sent as a courtesy and people are reminded to put a reminder on their phones or calendars for when it is time to renew.

Drivers are also reminded to keep their documents in the vehicle or drivers or they could face an $81 fine.