Drivers were fast and now they're furious after being stopped and ticketed for excessive speed near Sicamous.
In just the first week of July, Sicamous RCMP charged 21 drivers with driving more than 41 km/h over the posted speed limit, with each driver getting a $368 ticket, and some also having their vehicles towed for seven days. The majority of these offences occurred on Highway 1 in Malakwa.
The parade of speeders began on July 1 at 7:30 p.m. when a westbound Mercedes SUV was clocked at 175 km/h.
"Sicamous RCMP officers attempted to stop the driver, who increased his speed to 194 km/h while failing to stop," Sgt. Murray McNeil said in a media release. "The driver and his vehicle were located stopped on Enquist Frontage Road with the driver attempting to hide from officers who were searching the area."
The driver was arrested for dangerous operation of a vehicle, and received tickets for excessive speed and driving without due care and attention. The Mercedes was impounded for seven days, and the driver released from custody.
A day later, at 8 p.m. on July 2, a VW SUV was seen driving east on Highway 1 in Malakwa at a speed of 175 km/h. The vehicle was stopped and later found to be a rental car with Alberta plates. The driver received a $368 ticket and had the vehicle impounded for seven days "at the driver's expense."
"It is common practice for rental car companies to charge the driver all associated towing and impound fees," McNeil said. "In addition to an extra fee for the expense of sending an employee from the rental car company to retrieve the vehicle after the impound time is expired."
On July 4 at 8 p.m., an the RCMP saw a Lexus sedan driving east on Highway 1 in Malakwa at 166 km/h. The officer did a traffic stop and the driver was found to be a resident of a foreign country with an International Drivers Licence. The driver was ticketed and had the vehicle impounded for seven days.
Later that night, at 10 p.m., an officer noted an eastbound car driving in the fast lane of Highway 1 in Malakwa and "passing multiple vehicles at an excessive speed."
The officer recorded the Infiniti sedan at a speed of 210 km/h, more than double the posted limit of 100 km/h. When stopped, the driver was found to be an 18-year-old resident of Nanaimo with a Class 7 Learners Licence. He was ticketed and the vehicle impounded.
"Night time driving conditions were present at the time, adding to the danger the driver was imposing on other motorists with his reckless driving," McNeil added.
Of the 21 drivers stopped for excessive speed that week, four were found in excess of 180 km/h in a 100 km/h stretch of Highway 1.