Police

The publisher's commentary in the January 2013 edition of Blue Line Magazine takes a position that I strongly agree with. The police are responsible for traffic safety. If there are no consequences for bad driving behaviour, then there is no need to behave properly.

Donald Sipes crossed Chesterfield Avenue in North Vancouver as a pedestrian. He did not use a crosswalk and was approached by police who intended to warn him for jaywalking. A conversation ensued after which the warning turned into a ticket and the officer demanded to know Mr. Sipes name and residential address. Mr. Sipes did provide his name, but refused to provide his residential address and so was arrested for obstructing a peace officer.

Every year on the first of January I restart the collision counter on the DriveSmartBC web site. In order to try and keep it accurate I check ICBC's latest collision statistics, calculate the daily average and tweak the code that produces the display. This year, I can't get data on the number of people injured by impaired drivers. I'm sure that you will agree that it is an important statistic to know.

Question: I just a call from a trucker this morning whose friend (also a truck driver) had her log book and ferry receipts taken by an officer at a road block who then refused to give them back to her. Is this a standard policy from your recollection?

I have to admit that I made a conscious decision to disobey a couple of traffic laws the other day. I disregarded the speed limit and failed to keep to the right lane. I didn't think that the failing to keep right would be an issue because I was pacing a marked police vehicle that I knew was not responding to an emergency.

Question: I got a speeding warning by the police yesterday. He said my speed was over 60, but I am sure I was not driving over 60. I worry if the warning was put on the computer or not. If it is kept on record,it's not fair for me. I even don't have the chance to dispute for it.

I'm just wondering if the computers inside police cars have access to all of icbc's driving records and database?

Question: I am very upset by the long waits at roadblocks. It is infuriating how the police will inconvenience a line of cars for 15-20 minutes (say on the Malahat) and close a major highway.

We live in a small town up north with the RCMP are well known to be rude, aggressive and ...obnoxious. My 25 year old son was teaching my 21 year old son how to drive a standard last night...my younger son stalled on the road and tried to get the car started and stalled a couple of more times - he was more nervous also because there was a police car behind him.

I just moved here from Manitoba and have already got my first BC speeding ticket! I was on my motorcycle on the Trans Canada in the construction zones. I was riding behind another motorbike at about 7 car lengths behind him when we passed the cop.