B.C. highway patrol not impressed by man’s excuse for going 160 km/h in a 100 zone
Mercedes impounded, driver fined after incident on Crowsnest Highway south of Cranbrook
Last updated 7 hours ago
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Mounties in British Columbia were not convinced by an Alberta driver’s “questionable” justification for excessive speeding on a major highway in the east Kootenays — so much so, his vehicle was seized.
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The ride in question, a Mercedes-Benz SUV with an Alberta licence plate, was pulled over for driving over the speed limit by a BC Highway Patrol officer on Highway 3/95 near Moyie on the evening of Dec. 30, about 425 kilometres southwest of Calgary, RCMP said in a news release issued Friday.
The sport-utility vehicle was recorded going 160 km/h in a 100 km/h zone, according to police, and when the driver was asked to explain his lead foot, the man told the officer he was trying to avoid an elk.
“The maximum speed of a North American elk is about 70 km/h, so they are just as athletic as they are majestic, but if you feel the need to get away, you still have plenty of room to spare in a 100 km/h zone,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin of the BC Highway Patrol.
The Alberta driver was given a $483 ticket issued under the BC Motor Vehicle Act for going 60 km/h over the speed limit.
His vehicle was impounded for seven days. In addition, he was also billed impound fees and the cost of towing, RCMP said.
The highway patrol also noted insurance ramifications in terms of increased premiums and other costs for the driver and for all vehicles insured in B.C.
“Instead of coming up with questionable excuses, consider leaving slightly earlier, slowing to the speed limit, and saving yourself the cost and hassle of losing your vehicle to an impound,” McLaughlin said.
“If you ever hit such a large creature while driving 160, it will end badly for you and very badly for the elk,” he said, adding no elk were harmed in the incident.
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