Q&A

Question: How far can the tread of tires stick out from the fenders on a vehicle before it is a violation? The Motor Vehicle Act Regulations just says that the tread area must be covered by the fender.

Question: What is the protocol for passengers paying for gas if there is one? If someone offers to help pay for the gas and they give you the money right away, could they sue you in the case of an accident? If they pay at the end of the trip is that different?

Question: I want to put smoked covers on my headlight and tail lights. Is this Illegal in BC? If it is, are aftermarket headlights and tail lights with the smoked lenses illegal too? Is there somewhere I can go on the internet to find out what is illegal and what isn't?

Question: The intersection at Valley and Summit drive in Kelowna is a 2 way stop for drivers on the North and South side of Valley road. Does the car approaching from the South turning left have the right of way or does the car turning right approaching from the North?

My university workplace has just erected signage at a pedestrian crossing leading to a parking lot and I am just trying to determine if this is in contravention of current pedestrian right of way laws in BC. I want to have all my facts before I submit a formal complaint.

Question: This past year my 18 year old son was stopped and ticketed for having an extra passenger in his vehicle. He was also given a 24 hour prohibition for drug use without any investigation to support this.

I commute on Highway 19 daily. The road has been maintained by filling the cracks with tar rather than repaving it. In the wet weather what I'm seeing is the ruts (worn into the driven part) in the right lane are holding up to 20 mm of standing water sometimes for hundreds of meters at a time.

Question: How do I display my N new driver sign if the magnet won't stick to my car? The back window is too dark for it to be on the inside. I've tried mail label envelopes and they only work for a little while. I've lost so many N magnets, I'd like a better solution. Help!

I see more and more bicycles with flashing rear lights. Is this actually a better option or is it just a fad? I would like to know what the law is and if there is any research on the effectiveness of rear flashing red lights as opposed to lights that are just on all the time.

Question: I am a driving student, and I am interested to know what the law is with respect to parking near a bus stop. Sometimes there is a bus stop sign as well as a "no stopping before this point" sign about 5 meters after. Other times there is only the bus stop sign. In the latter case, how much space must legally be left between the rear of your car and the bus stop sign?