BC’s winter impaired driving crackdown is underway, and police on Vancouver Island carried out one of the busiest enforcement nights in the province.
This year’s “Light Up The Province” operation screened almost 200 impaired drivers throughout BC. While the number is still troubling, BC RCMP say it is slightly lower than last year’s total of 222, even though police checked far more vehicles.
Officers screened 52,091 drivers this year compared to 43,713 during the 2024 campaign.
Inspector Adam Tallboy with BC Highway Patrol says most motorists understand why these checks matter, especially as holiday travel ramps up.
“Mandatory Alcohol Screening continues to be a great tool,” he said.
“Multiple impaired drivers were pulled off the road even though they did not show any symptoms until they were breath tested.”
On Vancouver Island specifically, police checked roughly 13,500 vehicles during 16 roadside stops. Of that total, 18 drivers were given immediate prohibitions and police issued more than one hundred tickets related to impaired or unsafe driving.
Island Highway Patrol teams also held an early launch event on December 5th to prepare for the month-long campaign.
Provincewide totals show the south coast had the highest number of impaired drivers removed from the road, but Vancouver Island’s results were a significant part of the overall effort.
Across BC, police issued 190 impaired driving prohibitions and recorded 662 tickets on the enforcement night.
In a media release, BC Highway Patrol said officers also dealt with one of the strangest traffic stop explanations heard in recent years. Just after 6 p.m. on December 6th, an officer stopped a Richmond woman who was travelling 110 kilometres per hour in a 60 zone through Lions Bay.
The 23-year-old driver claimed she was speeding because her two-year-old son was home alone and might need medical help. The officer contacted Richmond RCMP, who forced entry into the woman’s apartment to ensure the child was safe.
When they reported no child inside, the driver admitted she was referring to her dog, who was healthy and not in distress.
The woman received a fine for excessive speeding, her vehicle was impounded and she was left to take a taxi home. She later emailed police to apologize for panicking and making what she described as a poor decision.
Inspector Tallboy says the goal is always preventing dangerous choices before they happen.
“The best outcome is for people to drive sober and within the speed limit. Leave plenty of time for winter driving conditions and get to your Christmas destination safely,” he said.
BC Highway Patrol thanked municipal police agencies, volunteers and provincial partners who worked on the enforcement night. Officers across the Island and the rest of BC will continue the Winter Impaired Driving Campaign throughout December.
