Let's start with the unsettling news.
Last month, RCMP impounded five vehicles out of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam for seven days each after lead-footed drivers were caught at or nearly double the posted limit — including three along the Mary Hill Bypass.
However, while the number is higher than what police hope for, yearly traffic enforcement for March was cut in half compared to the same month in 2021.
There were 339 violation tickets issued to commuters, which is a 56 per cent decrease compared to 763 from last year, according to stats provided to the Tri-City News.
Of last month's total, 158 were for speed-related infractions and resulted in fines that ranged from $138 to $483.
There were also 90 tickets issued for distracted driving last month, and each received a $368 fine.
Fortunately, no injuries or crashes were reported by police from any of the incidents.
With spring in bloom, Mounties are looking to the weeks ahead when summer rolls around and more drivers may get a little more over-zealous behind the wheel.
However, "traffic enforcement occurs all year, regardless of the seasons," says Coquitlam RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Evo Sokerov.
"We do participate in partnerships with ICBC and other groups which focus on prevention and awareness of specific infractions [i.e., distracted driving month, pedestrian safety, etc.]. Many different factors, including seasons, are considered when scheduling these events."
MARY HILL BYPASS
The five vehicles impounded last month resulted from their drivers clocking well above the speed limit in four areas across the local RCMP detachment's jurisdiction.
The Mary Hill Bypass was the busiest stretch.
One driver was caught zipping by at 125 km/h in a 60 zone near the Highway 7B intersection with Coast Meridian Road — the fastest among the five vehicles towed away.
Because the driver was going 65 km/h over the limit, it resulted in an excessive speeding ticket of $483 — the highest wallet-burning fine listed by ICBC.
Another commuter was caught speeding at the same intersection and received a $368 ticket for going 114 km/h (54 km/h above the limit).
The third impoundment off the Mary Hill Bypass took place one block west at its intersection with Broadway Street, where a driver clocked at 111 km/h in a 60 zone.
A couple blocks north, a fourth driver nearly doubled the 50 limit at 97 km/h near Broadway's intersection with Langan Avenue.
The fifth vehicle was taken off the road in downtown Coquitlam.
Its driver was close to getting the maximum fine after they clocked 108 km/h in a 50 km/h zone at the intersection of David Avenue and Pinetree Way.
ICBC says, on average, 27 people die across the province each year from motor vehicle incidents when excessive speeding of at least 40 km/h above the limit was a contributing factor.
