If you want to pull over somebody for speeding, you have to be able to match their speed.
That’s why Sea to Sky highway patrol is using high-powered BMW R1200 motorcycles to nab joy riders, including a Burnaby resident who shrieked by Lions Bay at over 100 kilometres above the speed limit around 11 p.m. on July 17.
“We’ve been doing it up and down the corridor, putting more emphasis on police motorcycles lately. Speeders don’t realize we can get to them really quickly and prevent them from getting hurt. We’re really trying to get the word out there that we’re focused on enforcement because we’re tired of dealing with these horrible collisions,” BC Highway Patrol media relations officer Michael McLaughlin told The Squamish Chief.
The corridor is well-known as being a magnet for joy riders, and the police’s policy is not to engage in pursuits, which is why many of the traditional cruisers are not always best suited for the task. But by utilizing a two-person team that sets up a speed trap using long-distance lasers, they can identify speeders from far away and arrange to intercept them with the bike.
“This particular type of motorcycle can track them down so much more quickly and safely than the older, heavier cruisers that may take more time to catch up,” he said.
“Our laser has tremendous range, and with good sight lines, we’ll see the speeder long before they come to us, then pull out to get them.”
On July 17, the Burnaby resident was driving a blue BMW M3 coupe that was clocked going 194 km/hr in an 80-zone.
No additional offences were noted, and police believe the driver was motivated by thrill-seeking behaviour.
“The Sea to Sky Corridor is known for people with higher-powered motorcycles and vehicles going for joy rides, and we’re very conscious of reducing that dangerous behaviour,” McLaughlin said.
The driver received:
- A ticket for excessive speed (more than 60 km/h) with a fine of $483 under section 148(1) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act;
- A seven-day impound;
- The bill for the tow, the impound and any subsequent ICBC licensing and insurance penalties.
There have been a high number of fatalities in recent weeks on BC highways, and excessive speed is almost always a factor, according to McLaughlin.
“Our officers would much rather give you a ticket, tow and impound rather than have to tell your family that you’re not coming home.”
