The Officer Should Have Exercised Discretion

Good Cop, Bad Cop imageThe subject of an officer using his or her discretion in the issuance of a traffic ticket is often part of what I receive in an e-mail asking for help. Usually the inquiry is from someone who is preparing for traffic court and feels that in their case the officer should have given them a warning instead of a ticket. Sometimes I agree with them and sometimes I don't.

Shoulder Checks

image of driver making shoulder checksIs it really necessary to make shoulder checks while driving? If you expect to pass a driving exam in British Columbia the answer is a definite yes. However, some driving schools are teaching mirror adjustment techniques to replace shoulder checks.

Driving Over a Fire Hose

image of fire hose on streetImagine that you are a firefighter, hose in hand, approaching the flames inside a burning building. You open the nozzle on your attack line and...nothing. Someone has driven over the hose outside in the street and ruptured it causing a loss of pressure.

Left Turns Through Stopped Traffic

left turns permitted at intersection signMost drivers believe that if they are facing a green light at an intersection they have the absolute right of way to drive through without any need to consider stopping. A recent case in the B.C. Supreme Court on making left turns through stopped traffic illustrates that this is not a reasonable expectation.