Two women lost their licences and had their vehicles impounded after allegedly driving while impaired following a day in the sun.
At 5:15 p.m. on Sept. 19, a BC Highway Patrol officer stopped a Toyota Matrix travelling 130 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on Highway 5 near Heffley Creek.
The driver, a 33-year-old Savona woman, told the officer she was trying to catch up with a friend in a Jeep Liberty that had stopped ahead.
The officer demanded a breath sample, and the driver registered a “Fail” on two tests.
The Jeep driver, a 29-year-old Kamloops woman, also registered a “Fail” on two breath tests.
Each driver received:
- a 90-day immediate roadside prohibition;
- a 30-day vehicle impoundment; and
- about $1,400 in towing and impound fees, administrative penalties and a licence reinstatement fee.
The Toyota driver also received a $138 speeding ticket under section 146(3) of the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act.
“This situation, like most impaired driving, was preventable at so many stages,” says Sergeant Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol.
“The decision to drive separately was part of a compounding series of bad judgments. Drinkers need to plan ahead so that they avoid selfish and dangerous choices.”
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