Driving related decisions by the courts.
Novice drivers licensed in BC are prohibited from using any type of electronic device while driving. This includes the use of GPS navigation and any type of hands free unit as well as devices that fully licensed drivers are allowed to use.
The case of Tataryn v Browne involves a single vehicle rollover crash on Long Lake Road near Kamloops. Farm workers riding in the box of the pickup truck at the time of the crash were injured. Debra Browne found that the owner's responsibility for their vehicle meant that she was vicariously liable for damages.
The case of Vujevic v Parnell involves the determination of liability for a u turn crash that happened near the intersection of the Mount Seymour Parkway and Fairway Drive in North Vancouver. At this location the Mound Seymour Parkway is a three lane road in a residential area.
The case of Legere v Harvey involves liability for two crashes on Highway 97 at Gallagher Lake north of Oliver. The first crash was between a southbound Mazda 3 driven by Gail Harvey and a deer. The second crash occurred immediately after between Ms. Harvey's Mazda 3 and a northbound Dodge Ram driven by Ryan Legere.
My highway patrol unit was issued its first laser speed measuring device back in the early 1990s. It was a popular tool to use because of both it's accuracy in targeting a specific vehicle and the measurement of that vehicle's speed. Case law regarding the use of the instrument developed over time in court the same way that it did with radar when that was introduced.
I am occasionally asked why construction speed zone is in effect when there is no work being carried out at the time. The standard response from government is that hazardous situations may exist and the reduced speed is necessary to be safe. Examples given are parked equipment, uneven pavement at the edges of lanes and no shoulder.
Vasu Virda is a delivery driver for Uber Eats in Vancouver. When he is sent a delivery offer by the company he must accept it by tapping the Uber Eats app on his cellphone. He did this while being observed by Officer Kim who issued a traffic ticket for using an electronic device while driving.
Do the police ever charge a fellow officer with a traffic offence? I suspect that members of the public would respond "no" to that assertion and would be skeptical of protests to the contrary. This case involves an unmarked police car speeding on the Okanagan Connector near Merritt.
The case of Huettner v Lo involves an unsafe lane change made by the driver of a white Kia Rondo in front of a transit bus that was northbound on Burrard Street in the HOV-dedicated far right lane beside the Hotel Vancouver sidewalk, approaching Georgia Street. Dashcam video was enhanced to identify that vehicle's licence number.
Sos Yeghiyan was issued a traffic ticket for speeding with a ticketed amount of $196. He paid the discounted amount and later on had second thoughts about doing so. Mr. Yeghiyan appealed his conviction and attempted to withdraw his guilty plea. He was not successful.