News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

Editor:

It is not as important that my story be told as it is that the consequences be known. I am a first-time offender for a 90 day suspension for drinking and driving.  The new breath analyzers are pass, warn and fail.  I, unfortunately, failed.  

The officer was kind enough to let me wait in his car for the cab as the tow truck took my vehicle away.  The cab driver took me home (if only I had just waited for him in the first place).  The consequences reach far past that night.

BC has one of the toughest drinking driving laws in Canada, and I found out first hand.  As a first time offender I immediately lose my vehicle. I was polite and cooperative and I was allowed to take a cab home: if not, I wouldn’t even want to consider the consequences.  Now the fun really begins.  First I have no transportation and I have to explain to everyone that I have lost my license.  I was not yet fully aware of the consequences.

When I actually read my ticket and realized I have to pay towing and storage fees for 30 days: for me that was $626. I was fortunate enough that I called in advance and found out that on the day that I have to reclaim my vehicle I would have to go to the Licensing office and have them fax a release to ICBC (our monopoly for car insurance in BC) who then must fax it to the towing office.  If you are lucky enough to have this actually work the first time you then have to contact the towing company to have the vehicle released and in this area they only seem to take cash.  Not to mention that you need two other people in order to pick it up as you can’t drive.

The next thing that happens is that I received a letter that informed me that I must go to a meeting with a councilor who will determine which course on driving I must take.  This course costs approximately $985.  I had to be enrolled in this course before the end of the 90 days to apply for my license. 

But wait, it is not over yet.  Now I have the ignition inhibitor installed in ANY vehicle that I drive.  This lovely contraption costs another approximately $700 to have installed, locally it can be done in Nanaimo at the Fountain Tire.  This also had to be installed before I can even apply to get my license back.

So now I am thinking, OK, well at least now I can get my license, but let’s not forget the $500 fine that came with the ticket, then of course I must apply to get my license back which is a $250 fee and the additional $31 license fee.  Wow, that is another $781 but at least will I have my license back. 

Now that I have done all of this I can now drive.  So now I must blow into this every time I want to start my vehicle and, even more fun, it may request a breath in the middle of a drive.  I must pull over within 3 minutes or the horn starts honking.  If I fail or fail not comply, it is a violation.  This machine has to be monitored monthly at a cost of $105 per month for the next year and you have to at least go to Nanaimo every other month to have it done.  If I have bad readings, or violations, or any other issues, then they can extend the requirement until they are satisfied.

I have not yet had the pleasure of the course but I am anxiously awaiting that phone call.

So now I am enjoying the pleasure and privilege of driving again.  All in all, my night out cost me over $5,000 between the cabs, courses and other requirements, and it is my first offence.  I know that I am still lucky because the consequence could have been much worst but I would like to think if I had known all of this I would have thought twice about getting behind the wheel.  I know most of my family, friends, co-workers and even complete strangers are learning a lesson from my mistake.  I hope by reading this you will too.

Thank you, 

Robin Nessel

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