No matter how high the speed limit, some people want to go faster.
In this case, nearly 100 kilometres/hour faster.
A 29-year-old man from Coldstream, near Vernon, spent a week without his muscle car after being stopped for speeding well over the posted 110 km/h limit on Highway 97C (Coquihalla Connector).
On April 1, at 2:25 p.m., a black 2027 Dodge Challenger was stopped going eastbound near Elkhart when a BC Highway Patrol radar recorded a speed of 207 km/h.
No joking.
“That’s obviously a dangerous speed, and nowhere near the already-generous speed limit,” said RCMP Cpl. Michael McLaughlin. “This traffic stop was made even more dangerous because the driver failed to pull over to the right.”
When the driver stopped on the left of the divided highway, he put himself and the police officer in the path of the fastest (and most dangerous) traffic on the road. Luckily, other motorists slowed down and moved over when they saw the flashing police lights.
The driver of the black Dodge Challenger received:
• A ticket for excessive speed (over 60 km/h), section 148(1) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act, with a fine of $483;
• The cost of a tow truck and a seven-day impound at his expense;
• At least three years of high-risk driver premiums and escalating insurance that will bring the total costs to about $2,500.
“We’re glad that no one was hurt, because at these kinds of speeds, collisions lead to fatalities,” said McLaughlin. “We would like to remind drivers to slow down. And if you do get stopped by police, remember to pull to the curb lane just like it says in the BC Motor Vehicle Act.”