Kootenay Highway Patrol hand out 177 tickets for drivers lacking insurance over six weeks

KOOTENAYS — In a news release by the Kootenay RCMP a startling number of drivers were caught driving without insurance.

From December 1, 2023, to January 11, 2024, Kootenay Highway Patrol caught 177 drivers driving without any valid documentation.

Each driver received a violation ticket for no insurance for $598 dollars.

As a result, BC Highway Patrol has compiled the top 10 excuses encountered:

“ICBC never sent me a reminder, I am on the way to purchase insurance right now, I forgot, I don’t have a decal anymore, My insurance is paid for automatically, so I thought I didn’t need to renew, The registered owner is my mom, dad or friend and it’s their job, This is a company vehicle, My vehicle is actually insured, but I don’t have the documents, I cancelled the credit card that was making the preauthorized payments, I know I don’t have insurance, but I really needed to go somewhere.”

That leaves the onus on drivers to brush up on their annual renewal dates as the RCMP don’t typically let any of the reasons be an excuse for not providing insurance.

Drivers should think about the risks of operating without insurance which include paying a significant fine, being financially responsible for a collision, and expensive towing costs, says the Officer in Charge of Kootenay Highway Patrol, Inspector Chad Badry. There is a risk of a driver’s license suspension or increased sanctions in court for repeat offences.