Yellow_Fly_Red
05-15-2002, 08:41 PM
Check this article out...!!
http://www.autonet.ca/AutonetStories/stories.cfm?storyID=5622
Street racing may cost BC drivers their cars
By Canadian Press May 15, 2002
VICTORIA (CP) – Police in British Columbia will be given new power to impound the vehicles of suspected road racers after a spate of deaths among young people thought to be racing.
Solicitor General Rich Coleman announced Tuesday that changes to the Motor Vehicle Act would give police the authority to impound vehicles involved in racing for 48 hours on a first incident. Drivers caught racing again within two years can lose their wheels for 30 days.
The new penalty is in addition to the police’s ability to seek immediate driving prohibitions from the superintendent of motor vehicles for anyone they suspect of racing.
Coleman acted after a recent series of spectacular accidents in the Vancouver area involving suspected street racers resulted in the deaths of several young people.
Coincidentally, the RCMP said earlier Tuesday it had charged two young men after a suspected street race in the Vancouver suburb of Richmond resulted in the death of a third racer and his passenger.
Herbert Chung Ho Chaum 22, and Michael La-Doug Chiu, 24, both of Richmond, were charged with criminal negligence causing death in the Feb. 14 incident where one car went out of control and ploughed into two traffic light standards.
Under the new changes, vehicle seizure could only take place when police intend to charge the driver with a specified offence under the Motor Vehicle Act or Criminal Code, Coleman said.
Police would submit a report to the superintendent of motor vehicles, which may also result in a driving prohibition.
People who have had their vehicles impounded for 30 days can apply to the superintendent to have the decision reviewed.
The instant roadside driving suspensions have already come under fire from some critics who’ve questioned the constitutionality of imposing a penalty on someone suspected but not convicted of an offence.
Coleman said legal experts are confident the new seizure policy is constitutional.
"We think because of the timeframe of 48 hours and the fact it’s involving a serious offence tied to street racing that we think it will withstand a Charter challenge," he said.
"I make no apologies for the fact we would remove a vehicle for 48 hours from the streets of this province to try and save a life."
Coleman said the changes are aimed at helping reduce the number of preventable crashes.
"Unsafe speed and driving without due care and attention are the top two contributing factors in fatal and other serious crashes attended by police.
"Impounding vehicles is an immediate action that removes the threat from the road," Coleman said.
Changes to the law now identify different forms of racing to include organized street races, spontaneous racing and so-called hat races, where drivers try to arrive first at a pre-determined destination.
Besides losing their vehicles and having demerit points added to their licences, street racers face up to $2,000 in fines and potential Criminal Code charges.
The racing often involves souped-up imported cars but police also point to aggressive or inexperienced drivers who drive at unsafe speeds.
For example, 18-year-old Whitney Nghiem was apparently racing a Honda Accord on a Vancouver street at estimated speeds of 130 kilometres an hour when she crossed a concrete median and hit a pole, slicing the family sedan in two.
Nghiem was killed but her five female passengers survived.
http://www.autonet.ca/AutonetStories/stories.cfm?storyID=5622
Street racing may cost BC drivers their cars
By Canadian Press May 15, 2002
VICTORIA (CP) – Police in British Columbia will be given new power to impound the vehicles of suspected road racers after a spate of deaths among young people thought to be racing.
Solicitor General Rich Coleman announced Tuesday that changes to the Motor Vehicle Act would give police the authority to impound vehicles involved in racing for 48 hours on a first incident. Drivers caught racing again within two years can lose their wheels for 30 days.
The new penalty is in addition to the police’s ability to seek immediate driving prohibitions from the superintendent of motor vehicles for anyone they suspect of racing.
Coleman acted after a recent series of spectacular accidents in the Vancouver area involving suspected street racers resulted in the deaths of several young people.
Coincidentally, the RCMP said earlier Tuesday it had charged two young men after a suspected street race in the Vancouver suburb of Richmond resulted in the death of a third racer and his passenger.
Herbert Chung Ho Chaum 22, and Michael La-Doug Chiu, 24, both of Richmond, were charged with criminal negligence causing death in the Feb. 14 incident where one car went out of control and ploughed into two traffic light standards.
Under the new changes, vehicle seizure could only take place when police intend to charge the driver with a specified offence under the Motor Vehicle Act or Criminal Code, Coleman said.
Police would submit a report to the superintendent of motor vehicles, which may also result in a driving prohibition.
People who have had their vehicles impounded for 30 days can apply to the superintendent to have the decision reviewed.
The instant roadside driving suspensions have already come under fire from some critics who’ve questioned the constitutionality of imposing a penalty on someone suspected but not convicted of an offence.
Coleman said legal experts are confident the new seizure policy is constitutional.
"We think because of the timeframe of 48 hours and the fact it’s involving a serious offence tied to street racing that we think it will withstand a Charter challenge," he said.
"I make no apologies for the fact we would remove a vehicle for 48 hours from the streets of this province to try and save a life."
Coleman said the changes are aimed at helping reduce the number of preventable crashes.
"Unsafe speed and driving without due care and attention are the top two contributing factors in fatal and other serious crashes attended by police.
"Impounding vehicles is an immediate action that removes the threat from the road," Coleman said.
Changes to the law now identify different forms of racing to include organized street races, spontaneous racing and so-called hat races, where drivers try to arrive first at a pre-determined destination.
Besides losing their vehicles and having demerit points added to their licences, street racers face up to $2,000 in fines and potential Criminal Code charges.
The racing often involves souped-up imported cars but police also point to aggressive or inexperienced drivers who drive at unsafe speeds.
For example, 18-year-old Whitney Nghiem was apparently racing a Honda Accord on a Vancouver street at estimated speeds of 130 kilometres an hour when she crossed a concrete median and hit a pole, slicing the family sedan in two.
Nghiem was killed but her five female passengers survived.