A professional truck driver from Abbotsford allegedly tried to cover up the smell of alcohol by lighting a candle after he was stopped by police on Dec. 4.
An RCMP press release issued on Tuesday (Dec. 9) said the incident occurred at about 9 a.m. that day, when the driver was pulled over in Fruitvale – near the city of Trail – by BC Highway Patrol.
The release said, at the time, the 52-year-old man was driving a Peterbilt tractor-trailer – owned by an Agassiz trucking company – with two loaded flatdeck trailers on Highway 3B.
Police recorded the truck going 75 km/h in a 60 km/h zone and when the truck was pulled over, the driver had lit a candle in the cab, the release said.
“It’s possible that the driver is very fond of Christmas candles. It’s also possible that he was trying to mask the odour of liquor,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol.
He said the driver was given a breath screening and blew a “warn,” indicating he was above the legal limit.
The man was given a three-day immediate driving ban, a three-day vehicle impound, a $138 fine for speeding and a $230 fine for having open liquor in the vehicle.