Unlicensed driver, 16, speeds up to cop in Lake Country with friends lying in back of van

A teenager found himself in a heap of trouble after being pulled over by Okanagan Mounties earlier this month.

The BC Highway Patrol (BCHP) says a police cruiser was driving on Hwy 97 south of Pelmewash Parkway in Lake Country around 4:30 am on June 4 when a minivan sped up behind them.

According to a BCHP release, the minivan was clocked by police radar going 160 km/h in the 100 km/h zone.

“Many people do not realize that police radar works just as well from behind a police cruiser as it does from the front,” explained Cpl. Michael McLaughlin.

While the speed was a problem, and far enough over the limit to warrant an excessive speeding ticket and vehicle impound, it certainly wasn’t the only issue.

“In this case, the 16-year-old driver had no driver’s licence, and two of his teenage passengers were lying on the back floor of the minivan next to yard tools and a lawn mower,” McLaughlin noted.

Police called the driver’s parents and were informed that the boy did not have permission to drive the van. The parents of another passenger thought their son was at home sleeping.

“This had all the ingredients of an imminent tragedy,” added McLaughlin. “Parents, make sure you talk to your kids. Teach them well to help them have a safe summer on BC highways.”

The driver was served $955 in violation tickets, for excessive speed, no driver’s license and operating a vehicle with too many passengers, and the minivan was impounded for seven days.