It's been another busy week for the VPD Traffic Unit.
Mark Christensen, Traffic Sergeant for the Vancouver Police Department, has shared a few photos of speeders the VPD Traffic Unit caught to his Twitter account.
On May 15, Christensen shared photos of a radar gun that clocked two speeders on the Granville Street Bridge. While the speed limit is 30/hr as the upgrade is being done, the guns show that the drivers were going 109 km/hr and 105 km/hr. He adds that these two road users were going exceptionally fast, but that anything over 71 km/hr would result in a 7 day impound. He also prefaces the post by exclaiming: "The Granville Bridge is not a race track!"
The Motor Vehicle Act defines excessive speeding as going over 40 km/hr above the speed limit. Doing so comes with a hefty $483 fine in addition to a seven-day vehicle impound.
The Granville Bridge is not a race track! The speed limit is 30 kmh 24/7 as up graded are done. These 2 are the highs but anything over 71 kmh could result in a 7 day impound. We will be back today targeting dangerous driving! @VPDTrafficUnit @ChiefPalmer @VancouverPD pic.twitter.com/hcrJFiyt77
— Sgt Mark Christensen (@baldguy1363) May 15, 2020
On May 14, Christensen shared an image of a Taxi being towed on the Granville Street Bridge. He states that the driver was speeding 84 km/hr in a 30 km/hr zone, which will result in an impound as well as a fine. In addition, he states that the taxi had "various mechanical defaults," which resulted in a $311 fine for failing to maintain a safe operating order.
84 kmh in 30 zone = excessive speeding even for a taxi driver! 7 day impound + $368! Also various mechanical defects with vehicle, box 1 notice and order issued, $311 fine for failing to maintain vehicle in safe operating order! @VancouverPD @ChiefPalmer @VPDTrafficUnit pic.twitter.com/6DeCL9kAYn
— Sgt Mark Christensen (@baldguy1363) May 15, 2020
VPD Traffic Enforcement warned leadfoots earlier this week that they were doubling down on efforts this week to target excessive speeders and other forms of dangerous behaviour as part of Canada Road Safety Week.
As people start to return to the roads, police say that they are dedicated to increasing road safety with targeted enforcement of unsafe behaviour. They also note that less traffic on the roads due to COVID-19 is not an excuse for speeding, racing or stunt driving.
On Thursday, May 7, Christensen posted a photo of three vehicles being towed for excessive speeding. He reports that three tow trucks were used to take away the vehicles that were excessively speeding in a residential area. One was clocked speeding at 98 km/hr, a second at 100 km/hr, and a third at 107 km/hr.
Christensen previously shared an image to his Twitter account of a Porsche being towed on the Granville Street Bridge. The driver was doing 93 km/hr in a 30 km/hr zone, which would also be considered excessive speeding.
Leadfoots beware: 35 intersections in B.C. are now equipped with automatic speed ticketing cameras, 24/7.
In May 2019, the Government of British Columbia announced that it was cracking down on dangerous driving with a new automatic ticketing system in the summer. However, the system was slowly rolled out over time, with the first five activated in July 2019.
Since B.C. activated its first five automated speed enforcement cameras at the end of July 2019, the government notes that the program has issued more than 20,000 speeding tickets. According to a release, "The fastest ticketed vehicle clocked 174 km/h at a location where the posted speed limit is 80 km/h."
Now, Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, has confirmed that automated speed enforcement equipment is now in place at all 35 planned Intersection Safety Camera (ISC) program sites and operating at 34 of them, on a 24/7 basis. Have a look at an interactive map of where they are located.
