A minivan pulled over on the Okanagan Connector (Hwy 97C) last weekend didn’t have the right excuse to get out of several tickets.
The BC Highway Patrol says the van was pulled over for speeding on Hwy 97C near Merritt around 7 pm on Saturday, Aug. 16.
According to police, the vehicle was nabbed going 136 km/h in a 100 km/h zone around Hamilton Hill and the driver’s excuse for speeding was that he was nearly out of gas.
We explained to the driver that speeding dramatically worsens your fuel economy,” commented Cpl. Michael McLaughlin through a BCHP release. “And sure enough, the van ran out of gas at the roadside.”
Speeding wasn’t the only issue for the 36-year-old Edmonton man behind the wheel, as the eight-seat vehicle had nine people inside and it didn’t stop there.
“The driver could not explain why only two out of nine people were wearing seat belts, or why a three-year-old’s car seat had no functioning buckles,” said McLaughlin.
Police issued the driver a $196 ticket for speeding, a $167 seatbelt violation and a $109 fine for the child being improperly restrained. Three passengers were also issued $167 citations for failing to wear seat belts.
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In the end, the driver paid for a taxi to drive up the hill from Merritt to bring fuel for the van and take away the extra occupant.
“There are many reasons to slow down. You will very likely avoid police attention, and you will be much safer,” McLaughlin added.
“If you get into a collision at high speed, every person who is not wearing a seatbelt will die. You do not want that on your conscience.”
