File: 26-4776; 26-4777
West Vancouver, B.C. – Illegal road noise leads to violation tickets, a vehicle impound, and immediate roadside prohibitions for two drivers
West Vancouver Police are aware of residents’ concerns regarding recent late-night aggressive driving and excessive noise in the Ambleside area. To educate drivers who choose to operate their vehicles in drive modes that produce illegal levels of exhaust noise and to counteract this behaviour through enforcement, West Vancouver Police have been conducting proactive patrols during the late-night and early-morning hours.
On Monday, May 18th, at approximately 1:56 a.m., a WVPD officer witnessed a black Ferrari Portofino revving its engine and producing a significant amount of noise and coordinated a stop of the vehicle on Marine Drive and 13th Street. A 20-year-old female driver with a Class 7 BC Learner’s Licence was requested to provide a mandatory breath sample and produced two “fail” readings, indicating a blood alcohol concentration over 0.08%. She was issued a 90-day immediate roadside prohibition, the vehicle was impounded for 30 days, and she received violation tickets for driving contrary to licence restrictions and failing to display the “L” sign.
While police were dealing with the driver of the vehicle, the 49-year-old male passenger got into the driver’s seat, started the vehicle, and proceeded to drive approximately 10 feet. Officers immediately intervened, removed him from the vehicle, and requested that he provide a breath sample. He provided two “warn” readings, indicating a blood alcohol concentration between 0.06% and 0.08%. He was issued an immediate 3-day prohibition.
West Vancouver Police remind drivers holding a Class 7 Learners Licence that they must not have consumed any alcohol or drugs, they must display the “L” sign, they are not permitted to drive between midnight and 5 a.m., they are only permitted one passenger, and they must have a qualified driving supervisor 25 years of age or older, with a valid licence, who is not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
West Vancouver Police also remind drivers of all light-duty vehicles that provincial noise regulations require vehicles on public roads to produce no more than 83 decibels of sound. We encourage drivers to operate their vehicles in modes that comply with these regulations and enjoy their vehicles responsibly while in the community and on public roads. Proactive patrols will continue throughout West Vancouver with Police employing enforcement strategies as appropriate.
