Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

Over Easter I took the family on our first "road trip" since we moved to Vancouver last August. We decided to keep the trip shortish given the fact that we only had a few days, we decided on a trip to Kelowna.

To break up the journey on the way down we stopped for lunch in a small town called Merritt. My wife voluntered to drive the second leg of the trip down to Kelowna. Just as we were leaving Merritt on highway 5 (I think it was) there was a white police car with lights flashing, a vehicle that had been stopped by the police and a third unmarked car stopped on the hard shoulder. Thinking nothing of it we carried on driving at a speed that was well within the speed limit.

Shortly after overtaking these three stationary vehicles the car at the front followed us with lights flashing (obviously an unmarked police car) so we pulled over.

The police officer explained why we got pulled over: when passing emergency vehicles with lights flashing on the hard shoulder you must reduce your speed to 70 kph AND move over to the inner lane.

Now before I go any further with the story, I wish to make it clear that:

a) we broke the law. We were not aware of this law and I accept that ignorance of the law is no excuse. So I have no complaints here - it's our own fault that we haven't read the highway code
b) the officer was polite and he was doing his job (albeit with a great deal of enthusiasm and zeal) and I don't take issue with that either.

Anyway, back to the story. After the officer checked our details on his computer he said that on this ocassion he would let us off with a warning, he scribbled something on a green piece of paper, handed it to us and bid us farewell. At this point in piped in with "thank you officer", to which he replied in an aggressive way "EXCUSE ME" so I repeated "thank you officer", he turned away and muttered something under his breath. My wife commented that he hadn't liked that at all. I must say I was puzzled by his reaction to my sincere gratitude i.e. we were let off with a "warning".

As we continued on our way I took a look at the piece of paper he left us with and I could just about make out amongst the scrawl: "$173". At this point I realised why he got pissed off with me i.e. he thought I was being sarcastic as he had given me a fine.

I have a few questions:

1. If he let us off with a "warning" which turns out to be a fine for $173. What is the alternative eg. being arrested?
2. I'm used to a "warning" being a bollocking from the police and nothing more. A warning over here appears to include a hefty fine
3. How efficient is the administrative side of the police force? Everything was done manually is the fine likely to be pursued? This is a bit of a rhetorical question as I suppose it depends on many things.
4. How long does one have to pay the fine?

Answers to 1 & 2 & 3 above would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

My OH has always just paid what's on the fine, he does sometimes get let off with a warning and a lower fine amount.

BTW the speed limit when passing stopped emergency vehicles including tow truck in Alberta is 60kmph. (If you ever come this way).

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

And I think the fine for speeding when passing any emerg vehicle or highway work crews (the orange zone) is double what the normal speeding fine is. It's to protect the workers and on the highway that's 60 kmh.

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

Yeah I think your right there.

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

This law was new to BC a year or so ago but most people don't know about it.
Recently on the main highway from Kelowna to Lake Country the police staged a test by parking a car with flashing lights on the side of the road and then had another car with camera filming all those that didn't follow the rules. I believe in this instance they just pulled people and gave a warning (no fines) just a verbal "do that again and your nicked" kind of warning. (maybe next time they'll get tasered)
I think you were extremely unlucky and by the sound of it the entire Merritt police force of 1 must have had help that day. :lol:

No idea about the fine questions sorry.

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

They do this fairly regularly near to my house. Often the vehicle that has been pulled over is actually a cop car and they do it just over the brow of a hill so you have to get on the the anchors pretty quick to get down below 60, the speed limit is 110. Big revenue raiser.

On another note, amazes me how many people from the UK swap over their licence and don't bother to read a drivers handbook, serves 'em right if they get caught.

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

No alternative. Pay the fine. Move on.

If you decide not to pay the fine it is a crap shoot. It the policeman turns up in court you have no chance. Perhaps they will not and the case delayed until it is thrown out.

I think you get a month to pay to get a discount.

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

Sounds like you were a bit unlucky.

I got stopped a few months ago after doing a u turn at a set of traffic lights. There was loads of time and I thought it was strange when a car accelerated right behind me - until the flashing lights came on. I told the officer I didn't realise it was illegal and thought it was ok since it was such a common manouvre to see on the roads and I wouldn't do it again. He asked if I was new to Calgary and checked the licence etc and said he wouldn't take it any further. That was a lucky escape.

Apparently its ok to do a u turn as long as it isn't at a traffic light controlled junction.

One of our Canadian neighbours recently got a ticket for parking outside their house facing the wrong way.

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

He should've known better! I made the mistake once while on a recee over here, there was a crowd of people who stopped to look at me wondering what the heck I was doing parking on the wrong side of the road. They soon told me what I had done wrong.

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

I find it amazing how so many people think they are above the law. Coming back from Montreal on Monday, the 40 and 417 were crawling with cops yet people were still doing 140.

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

This applies only in the lane right next to the emergency vehicles so if said vehicles are on the shoulder and the are two driving lanes only the right lane must slow to 60kph. It seems academic anyway as just about everyone slows down in both lanes around here.

http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/2079.htm

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

The fine in nova scotia for the offence is $425.35 and three points.they had a little test on the highway close to the Halifax airport where they stopped the first 10 vehicles that passed a stationary police car with its lights on. The lad I work with was lucky number 7. Lol

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

This sort of nonsense is one of the reasons why I take the bus.

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

Doesn't help you much now, but the stretch of highway approaching Merritt is regularly patrolled by marked and unmarked police cars. They often sit in the grass median on the long downhill run into the city and will clock your speed way before you see them.

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

They will be pretty efficient when it comes to the ticket and if you dont pay it you may find yourself not able to renew your drivers license or insurance with ICBC until said fine is paid.

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

Quick thinking but probably not a good idea.........

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ng-ticket.html

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

1. In Ontario the MINIMUM fine for incorrectly passing a stopped car with its lights on is $400, plus 3 demerit points. Do it again within 5 years and you can do 6 month inside for it! Plus a $4000 fine. $175 and no points is a let off.

2. He probably just did you speeding or something instead, what does the ticket actually say?

3. In ontario it can show up when you renew your license, depends on the jurusdiction. Apparantly there are billions (with a b) in outstanding fines that have never been paid, so it doesnt work all that well.

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

Jesus, I've seen people get less than that for doing serious harm to people !!

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

Having myself been run over and left for dead on the highway I think the fines are justified, and remembering that most of the expats had to re do their driving test why did you not know this...:blink::confused:

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

Its relatively new in Ontario. I happened to have my plate renewal form in front of me and it was in the insert...there is no mention of 70kmh, just "slow down".

It can be a confusing law anyway, if you have to cut up another driver to pull over its not actually any safer for anyone. Whose going to make that call?

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

Yeah, I get confused by that, police on the crest of a hill, solid line in the median, so hmm. I drive by slowly looking concerned. Seems to have worked so far

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

down in the US I think the fines are even steeper

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

"A new regulation takes effect June 1 2009 to enhance the safety of emergency workers by requiring drivers to slow down and move over when passing parked emergency vehicles that have their lights flashing.

The new Motor Vehicle Act regulation applies to drivers passing police, fire, ambulance and towing vehicles, as well as vehicles used by commercial vehicle safety and enforcement personnel, passenger transportation inspectors, conservation officers, park rangers, and special provincial constables employed in the Ministry of Forests and Range.

Drivers must now slow to 70 km/h on highways where the speed limit is 80 km/h or higher, and to 40 km/h where the limit is below 80 km/h, when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle that has lights flashing. If there is another lane going in the same direction, drivers must also move into that lane if it is safe to do so.

The penalty for not slowing to the designated speed, not moving over, or both, is a fine and three penalty points on the driver’s licence. The fine, including a 15 per cent victim surcharge, is $148 if paid within 30 days or $173 thereafter. An existing penalty remains in place for failing to yield to a moving emergency vehicle.

Between 2001 and 2007, 21 emergency workers were injured or killed on B.C. roads – 12 of them at the roadside."


Looks like you were let off the points but not the fine.

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

It's not like me to question authority, oh no! But of those 12 emergency workers killed or injured at the roadside in those six years in BC, I can't help wondering how many weren't paying attention to the traffic.

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

Probably fairly hard to do when you're making sure you don't get a gun pulled in your face.

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

Only time I have seen the cops 'in action' over here, they are hiding behind unmarked vehicles with speed guns, or writing tickets for motorists. One day those motorists may be sitting on a jury.......................do they have juries over here? Everyone seems so afraid of the old bill.........................................

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

The cops here do seem to be a law unto themselves at times:eek:

Re: Getting Pulled Over By The Police
 

ive nuttin gainst da rozzers, but when U see impropor behaviours like dis it make U really wonder bout da arms ov de law.....