Back in June, when we told you about the increasingly harsh anti-stunting laws across Canada, we were telling you the straight truth—increasingly, police have the power and capability to seize your bike for speeding. For evidence, check out this recent news bit from British Columbia, where Johnny Law took two riders’ bikes after catching them at excess speeds on the highway.
From the RCMP’s press release, we get the following: “Integrated Road Safety Unit (BCHP-CRD-IRSU) was conducting enforcement on the Trans Canada Highway # 1 southbound near the McKenzie overpass in Saanich, BC. The posted speed limit along this particular stretch of highway is 80 km/h.
A load roar of engines caught the attention of the officer, who then observed two motorcycles proceeding under the overpass at a high rate of speed which the officer established to be 143 km/h. The KTM and Kawasaki motorcycles were stopped and impounded for one week. The two riders were issued violation tickets in the amount of $483 each for excessive speeding under the BC Motor Vehicle Act, and will also be responsible for the associated towing and impoundment fees.”
A load roar of engines (sic)? The horror! No wonder the police acted so quickly…
Anyway, these riders will now have to pay the ticket, plus what will likely be hundreds in towing and impound fees. As one commenter said in our June story: “you have to pay them their going rate for towing, distance charges apply and daily storage charges. That can add up to an extra thousand over your ticket cost pretty quickly.”
Plus, they’ve lost their bikes, which is a pretty big kick in the pants itself, especially if they’re no longer in the same condition when they pick them up.
But, far be it from us to criticize the RCMP for keeping the highways safe from dangerous speeding! Still, it’s not hard to see some irony in the closing lines of the press release: “Throughout the month of July and beyond, motorists can expect to see enhanced enforcement of dangerous driving behaviours during the Province-wide Summer Impaired Driving Enforcement Campaign.” What’s more likely to kill another motorist: A rider going over the speed limit, or someone drinking/texting while driving? What do the stats say?
I’ve rode that section of McKenzie hundreds of times. When it’s quiet with light traffic, I could see a guy doing 20 over the limit with no issues. 63 over the limit is a different kettle of fish. These two guys are morons, and I can’t say I have any sympathy for them.