Designated Drivers Must Obey Restrictions

New Driver SignsDrivers who are part of B.C.'s Graduated Licencing Program (GLP) are limited to the number of passengers that they are allowed to carry by a restriction on their driver's licence. This restriction is designed to minimize the driver distraction that might be caused by a carload of rambunctious friends. The only exception to this restriction is when the passengers are family members.

CASE LAW - Olchowy v Tomkulak

BC Courts Coat of ArmsThis is the story of a two vehicle collision that happened in the uncontrolled intersection of Jervis Street and Gordon Avenue in Port Coquitlam, B.C. Michelle Olchowy was travelling south on Jervis Street and Clifford Tomkulak was travelling east on Gordon Avenue. Ms. Olchowy entered the intersection within a second or fraction of a second of Mr. Tomkulak.

Q&A - Passenger Limits When Passengers are Drunk?

New Driver Signs 2011My Friends were at a Christmas party, and had their 20 year old son pick them up at 11:30 to drive them home as they had been drinking. They got stopped in a roadblock and the son got a $311.00 fine for driving with too many people in the car.

He made everyone get out of the vehicle and walk.

PHOTOS OF CONCERN - Oops, You Forgot Something!

cameraThis was noticed sitting in the parking lot one afternoon. Where was the rest of the vehicle? The elderly driver had managed to hook the front fascia of the vehicle on the curb block when backing out of the space and ripped it off of the car. She allegedly did not realize that this had happened until it was pointed out to her when she stopped in another parking lot shortly afterward.

 

CASE LAW - R v Stein

BC Courts Coat of ArmsPaul Stein was convicted of failing to wear a seatbelt for an incident that occurred on Hillside Avenue in Victoria, B.C. He was observed by Sergeant LeBlanc who pulled him over and issued the ticket. Mr. Stein's argument was that he was a commercial vehicle driver engaged in frequent stops and was exempt from having to wear a seatbelt.

How to Park Safely on a Hill

Parking On A HillWhen I was a new driver I almost learned the hard way how important it was to turn the wheels properly to park safely on a hill. I had parked my father's truck on a hill, didn't put it in park, didn't set the parking brake and kept the front wheels straight before getting out and walking away. Fortunately for me, a friend saw the truck start to roll away and yelled at me.

CASE LAW - Vance v Cartwright

BC Courts Coat of ArmsWilliam Vance was riding an unlicenced, uninsured off road motorcycle southbound on 198 Street in Langley, B.C. He was not wearing a helmet and was exceeding the speed limit. Cristine Cartwright was eastbound on 21 Avenue and had stopped at the stop sign before entering 198 Street intending to turn northbound. Vision was limited for drivers on 21 avenue looking northbound by roadside vegetation.