Driver Licencing

I have a question about the Ignition Interlock Program. My son lost his licence for pleading guilty to drinking too much wine at my new years dinner and running to the store for me. He went through a road block, and blew over. I would not have sent him if I thought he was impaired, but with the new laws, he was guilty.

Question: A family member suffers from seizures and was told at the time by doctors that he cannot drive. The reason for the seizure was swelling due to brain tumours that have since been treated with drugs and radiation.

I’ve always understood penalty points to be a kind of score keeping method to assign a level of risk to the breach of a traffic rule. The more dangerous the violation, the more penalty points that would be assigned to a driving conviction. Rack up too many points in a set period of time and you would have to pay ICBC premiums and risk a driving prohibition from RoadSafetyBC.

RoadSafetyBC is the ultimate authority on who gets to keep their driver's licence and who doesn't based on the driver's medical fitness. Assessments affect about 150,000 drivers each year in British Columbia.

Advanced Driving Directives are to seniors as Parent-Teen Driving Contracts are to youth. Both are aimed at keeping the driver out of trouble through an agreement to abide by a set of guidelines designed to keep everyone safe.

Many people mistakenly call an International Driving Permit (IDP) an International Driver's License. Their belief is that the IDP alone allows them to drive here at home and abroad, perhaps even when they do not hold a valid driver's license or they are prohibited from driving.

Regardless of the fact that I paid $75 to renew my driver's license, it isn't mine. In fact, it states on the back of the license that "This card remains the property of the issuing agency and must be surrendered upon request." If that request is made or the law requires its return there is no refund of fees and you must give it back.

A friend of mine let his 13 year old daughter drive his car on the streets of our town! What are the implications if she got in an accident?

Question: My teen is an irresponsible driver and I am concerned enough at the danger they present to themselves and others that I want to withdraw my consent for them to have a driver's licence. How do I do that?

"I've got 24 hours to produce it, don't I?" and "It doesn't matter, I know my licence number." had to be the two most common responses I received when I stopped someone that wasn't carrying their driver's licence with them. Yes, you may know the number, but if my past experience is any indication, most of you don't know a lot of the other details such as class, expiry date, restrictions or even your security keyword!