Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Legislation Speeding is EXPENSIVE in BC!

Out here in the Western regions of Canada... in a province called British Columbia we have some new laws pertaining to speeding. Here's the gist of it.

The Motor Vehicle Act (as of Sept 20, 2010) defines excessive speed as driving at a speed greater than 40 km/h over the speed limit. So...

Drivers going more than 40 km/h over the limit receive a $368 fine and those exceeding the limit by more than 60 km/h receive a $483 fine.

Add this to that... if you are caught excessively speeding, you will automatically have your car impounded for seven days for a first offense, 30-days for a second offense, and 60 days for any subsequent offenses within two years. You’ll also pay to get your car out. Towing and seven days of storage will cost you at least $210, a 30 day impoundment will cost around $700, while a 60-day impoundment will cost over $1200.

That means that it could cost anywhere from $578 - $1700 for speeding, depending on the circumstances. Riders planning to visit BC, Canada in upcoming years beware... the speeding laws are BRUTAL now. So, all of you who attend the Nelson RAT Raid... better learn to slow down next time you're here.

Yep. 40k over and yr walking for a month here. No impound but a big instant fine, or a speed dangerous charge at court.

Wow. Tough laws. Maybe nor about money than safety? Naw. They wouldn't do that...

Used to be that EVERY speeding ticket in Virginia was a misdemeanor. Don't know if they still do that. Hard if not impossible to cross into Canada from the US with misdemeanor(s) on ones criminal history.

With fines that high it almost makes one consider evasion.

VA had some of the most brutal laws in the country, they were challenged as unconstitutional but I'm not sure if anything changed.

Unbelievable!!! I have to agree with Dave on his evasion comment too. I wonder if it will have any impact on the number of tickets given out after it goes into effect.

I also wonder what the cost would be to get the ticket "fixed" and reduced to a non-moving violation. Would the cost be lower one way or another or would that fine still have to be paid?

Florida I believe had a similar law regarding speeding back in 2008. "In 2008, the state passed a new law that dictates anyone caught driving 30 mph or more over the posted limit could have their vehicle confiscated, their license suspended for up to 10 years, and face jail time. "

Now the law reads, "A person cited for a second or subsequent conviction of speed exceeding the limit by 30 miles per hour and above within a 12-month period shall pay a fine that is double the amount listed in paragraph (b)."

Baseline fines are
1-5 m.p.h..........Warning

6-9 m.p.h..........$25

10-14 m.p.h..........$100

15-19 m.p.h..........$150

20-29 m.p.h..........$175

30 m.p.h. and above..........$250

we are talking about 25mph OVER the posted limit right?
Why would anyone do that?

like 75 in a 50, or, 90 in a 65?

Some are just naughty that way

Yeah but he still gave us the tickets, polite or not...

Sgt. Preston RCMP? Whatever happened to that show, BTW? That's right, he had a dog sled, He could never catch ya. Triumph s are just too fast.

Well okay, I suppose since we're doin' this whole Mountie thing here, I'll link you guys to another flash-from-the-past....

(part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r0F86A-CY0

(part 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1rBcIBWROo

(part 3)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfoN7WC7OE8

(...btw, have any of you guys ever been to Banff-ff-ff?...I hear it's beautiful there!)

Yeah, I've been to Banff-ff-ff and it IS beautiful. And did you know that burglar of Banff-ff-ff escaped and is said to be hiding somewhere up in the Columbia Icefields where he practices his baritone voice in ice-o-lation! Well, that's the word on the streets in Banff-ff-ff at least.

Now Dwight, I would NEVER deprive you of your passion.

Glad they were a little more reasonable out on the desert a few years back, especially when you pull over and wait for them. The OL was doing some 140 in a 75 MPH zone when she passed a CHP doing 90. At that point, the Jensen interceptor became my daily driver.

Yeah, it's rough here in the Old Dominion -- 20mph over is an automatic "reckless driving" ticket... which is awkward when riding on the roads around here, where everybody does 70 in a 50mph zone. Yay.

Dodged a bullet early last year when I got popped doing... WELL over the speed limit ("Ooh, this 904 kit is awesome! Uh oh..."), but the cop was cool and only wrote me up for 19mph over. (He rides. )

Still, it's bad enough around here (NoVA) that I generally try to get the hell out of here if I want to really screw it on. Otherwise, as was said, it gets really expensive really fast (and without trying very hard).

--Jaeger

Keith

If you think that is expensive, come down here for your speed thrills.

Our max speeds are 110kmh on freeways, 100kmh on other country roads and highways.

+45 kmh will cost $1865.00 and they take your licence on the spot.

Full fines table here.

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/rulesregulations/penalties/speeding.html

And we have a demirit points scheme as well, clock up 12 points in 3 years and you lose you licence for minimum 6 months.

Ontario calls 50 over the limit "Street Racing" and does the whole 7 day impound thing. This has been in place for a couple of years now and I don't know current statistics but in the early months they were laying 1,000 charges a month.

THAT'S IT, I'm moving to Germany!!