BC Highway Patrol in Dawson Creek is reminding all drivers that there are consequences for failing to stop for police.

At a minimum, Section 73(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act of BC stipulates a fine of $138 plus 3 points for failing to stop when signalled/requested by police. In more serious cases that may require unconventional methods to safely conclude an incident, drivers could face Criminal Code charges of Dangerous Driving and Flight from Police which carry a possible jail sentence, fines and driving prohibitions.

This reminder comes on the heels of two recent incidents in the Dawson Creek area that were brought to a safe conclusion resulting in arrests and criminal charges.

In the first instance, a BCHP officer attempted to stop a speeding vehicle to issue a ticket, however the vehicle sped up and its driver refused to stop. The officer was able to obtain the vehicle’s licence plate and radioed ahead to alert other officers in the area, as the vehicle was being driven in a dangerous manner. An officer with Dawson Creek RCMP established a position in the area the vehicle was believed to be heading and successfully deployed a tire deflation device. The driver brought the vehicle to a safe stop a short distance away and was arrested. What would have been a speeding ticket had the driver stopped for the BCHP officer resulted in criminal charges, a vehicle impoundment and a $483 ticket for excessive speed.

In the second incident, a BC Highway Patrol officer assisted the Dawson Creek RCMP by deploying a tire deflation device on a vehicle occupied by three people, one of whom was allegedly involved in a domestic violence incident involving a firearm. In this case, the driver faces a number of serious criminal charges in relation to the domestic violence matter in addition to charges stemming from fleeing from police and other driving offences.

Failing to stop for police often compounds what may otherwise be a violation ticket for the initial offence, says Corporal Trevor Vokins of BC Highway Patrol in Dawson Creek. It is simply not worth putting yourself and others at risk of harm by engaging in this type of behaviour.

Supplied by Dawson Creek RCMP