Many people dispute speeding tickets, but a recent incident involved a driver who disputes the idea of speeding tickets in general — not only for them.
Metro Vancouver Transit Police spokesperson Sgt. Clint Hampton told Vancouver Is Awesome that he and colleague Cst. Micheal Yake recently joined the Targeted Mobile Enforcement Team (TMET) on a joint project with the Ridge Meadows RCMP.
"We were doing speed enforcement on the Golden Ears bridge with a focus on excessive speeding," he explained.
Over the span of a couple of hours, the officers issued eight provincial violation tickets including six for excessive speeding — going 40 km/h or more over the speed limit, Hampton said.
A ticket for excessive speeding comes with a $483 fine and a seven-day vehicle impound.
When Hampton and Yake pulled over a driver who was speeding 53 km/h over the limit, the individual asked "why police don't do their job [and] focus on the drugs [and] alcohol killing people."
Naturally, the point wasn't well-received and Transit Police noted in a Twitter post that there were a staggering 252 fatal traffic collisions in 2019 in B.C. and speed was the biggest contributing factor.
"The fact that speed kills is an unfortunate reality and we hope that our post brings attention to the dangers posed by excessive speeding," Hampton said.
Driver is pulled over going 53Km/h over the speed limit. They asked why police don't do their job & focus on the drugs & alcohol killing people
— Metro Vancouver Transit Police - Media Relations (@MVTP_Media) June 16, 2021
In 2019, there were 252 fatal collisions in BC. Speed being the biggest contributing factor #ArriveAlive @TP_Enforcement @RidgeRCMP pic.twitter.com/yn6VcmsoZT
Distracted driving in B.C.
BC RCMP Traffic Services says fatal and serious injury motor vehicle collisions due to distracted driving are completely preventable.
According to provincial data, distracted driving is responsible for more than 25 per cent of all car crash fatalities and is the second leading cause of fatal collisions in B.C. Every year, an average of 76 people die in fatal motor vehicle collisions in BC because the driver was distracted or not paying attention.
Distracted driving is more than electronic devices being used; other reasons for the citation include personal grooming, eating/drinking, reading, pets, other passengers, and not knowing your route.
With files from Castanet.
