Impaired BC ‘N’ driver going 174 km/h in an 80 km/h zone fails to stop for police

A driver with only a Class 7 licence, who was not displaying their ‘N’ sign is in hot water after flying past a Saanich Police (SPD) officer on the Patricia Bay Highway early Thursday morning.

The SPD says the officer registered multiple laser readings of the driver travelling at 174 km/h in an 80 km/h zone in the 4000 block of the Patricia Bay Highway shortly before 3 am.

“The vehicle did not stop for the officer and instead continued to speed southbound down the highway before turning off at Vernon Avenue,” an SPD release explained.

While the officer did not pursue the vehicle, they circulated the area and found the vehicle parked on a dead-end side street.

The driver was ordered out of the vehicle and taken into custody, then ordered to take a breathalyzer when the officer suspected signs of impairment.

After registering a fail, the driver was issued an Administrative Driving Prohibition that prohibits him from driving for 90 days. His vehicle was also impounded for 30 days.

In addition to the standard impaired driving penalty, the driver also received traffic tickets for excessive speeding and failing to display an ‘N’ sign.

“We anticipate recommending to Crown that the driver should also be charged criminally with flight from a police officer and impaired operation of a motor vehicle,” the SPD release added.

The driver has since been released from custody.