14 vehicles impounded in one week in Fort St. John for drivers’ excessive speeding

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Over a dozen drivers in Fort St. John have had their vehicles impounded for excessive speeding in the first week of March. 

The BC Highway Patrol said 14 drivers had been stopped and had their vehicles impounded for speeding up to 40 kilometres per hour (km/h) over the limit. 

“Our job is to help make driving safer for everybody,” says Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol.

“That’s what we aim to do by letting drivers know all the consequences of speeding.”

According to a BC Highway Patrol media release on March 11th, three drivers were more than 60 km/h over the limit.

Another three had class seven driver’s licences; two were novices and one was a learner.

The learner who was 60 km/h over the limit received a maximum fine of $483 plus the impound charges. 

The two novice drivers were both ticketed for $109 for not displaying their N-plate, plus an excessive speeding ticket of $368.

Another two were “impaired” in their driving, one of which had no insurance and received an additional ticket of $598 plus a 60 km/h excessive speeding ticket of $483.

“Speed, along with distracted driving and impaired driving, are the top three contributing factors to fatal collisions in this province,” says McLaughlin.

“You never know when BC Highway Patrol will launch a concentrated effort at excessive speeders, but you can bet that you’ll lose the privilege of driving if you don’t slow down.”

All drivers were also responsible for the cost of the tow, the seven-day impound and ICBC premium points.