There may be less cars on the road due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but drivers should note that the VPD Traffic Unit is still active on Vancouver's Streets.
Mark Christensen, Traffic Sergeant for the Vancouver Police Department, has shared a few photos of speeders VPD Traffic Unit caught to his Twitter account this week. On Wednedsay, May 6, he reports that the unit set up on the Cambie Bridge, where the speed limit is 50 km/hr. The first vehicle, a truck, was speeding at 107 km/hr, and the second, a car, was speeding at 115 km/hr.
The Motor Vehicle Act defines excessive speeding as going over 40 km/hr above the speed limit. Doing so comes with a hefty $483 fine in addition to a seven day vehicle impound.
In his Tweet, Christensen remarks, "A pandemic does not give you the right to speed!"
Today we set up on Cambie Bridge, which is 50 kmh. I thought the truck was fast @ 107 then we got the car @ 115! Both 7 day impound! A pandemic does not give you the right to speed! @VancouverPD @ChiefPalmer @Eandersen1507 @VPDTrafficUnit pic.twitter.com/suql2OjacH
— Sgt Mark Christensen (@baldguy1363) May 6, 2020
On Thursday, May 7, Christensen posted another photo of vehicles being towed for excessive speeding. He reports that three vehicles were excessively speeding in a residential area. One was clocked speeding at 98 km/hr, a second at 100 km/hr, and a third at 107 km/hr.
Beautiful morning for enforcement! 3 tow trucks for 3 excessive speeders...98, 100 and 107 all in a 50 km residential area! #SlowDown @ChiefPalmer @VPDTrafficUnit @Eandersen1507 @VancouverPD pic.twitter.com/GXFDGdHRjv
— Sgt Mark Christensen (@baldguy1363) May 7, 2020
Last week, Christensen shared an image to his Twitter account of a Porsche being towed on the Granville Street Bridge. The driver was doing 93 km/hr in a 30 km/hr zone, which would also be considered excessive speeding.
Leadfoots beware: 35 intersections in B.C. are now equipped automatic speed ticketing cameras, 24/7.
In May 2019, the Government of British Columbia announced that it was cracking down on dangerous driving with a new automatic ticketing system in the summer. However, the system was slowly rolled out over time, with the first five activated in July 2019.
Since B.C. activated its first five automated speed enforcement cameras at the end of July 2019, the government notes that the program has issued more than 20,000 speeding tickets. According to a release, "The fastest ticketed vehicle clocked 174 km/h at a location where the posted speed limit is 80 km/h."
Now, Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, has confirmed that automated speed enforcement equipment is now in place at all 35 planned Intersection Safety Camera (ISC) program sites and operating at 34 of them, on a 24/7 basis. Have a look at an interactive map of where they are located.
