Record number of impaired drivers caught during Sunfest on Vancouver Island

BC Highway Patrol is condemning what it calls “outrageously poor decision-making” after officers recorded a record number of impaired driving offences during one of Vancouver Island’s largest music festivals.

Officers conducted enforcement around Lake Cowichan from July 30th to August 2nd as thousands of people attended the Sunfest Country Music Festival over the BC Day long weekend.

During the four-day operation, police recorded 36 impaired driving offences, nearly three times the 11 recorded during Sunfest in 2025.

The total also surpassed the previous record of 25 offences set in 2024.

“To say that I’m concerned would be an understatement,” said Inspector Adam Tallboy, officer in charge of BC Highway Patrol on Vancouver Island.

“This increase shows outrageously poor decision-making. If you can’t have fun without doing the minimal planning required to avoid impaired driving, you don’t deserve to drive.”

The impaired driving enforcement included:

• Nine 90-day Immediate Roadside Prohibitions for drivers who registered a “fail”
• Nineteen three-day prohibitions for drivers who registered in the “warn” range
• Six 24-hour suspensions, typically issued for suspected drug impairment
• Two 12-hour suspensions involving learner or novice drivers who had consumed drugs or alcohol

Police also issued 153 violation tickets and impounded six vehicles for excessive speeding.

BC Highway Patrol said the numbers show some motorists continue to underestimate the consequences of driving while impaired.

“After seeing these high impairment numbers from Sunfest, motorists can expect to see even more check stops,” Tallboy added.

“We will use whatever legal tools we have to improve this situation, and we expect better decisions from drivers.”

Police said motorists can also expect increased use of Mandatory Alcohol Screening, which allows officers to demand a breath sample from any driver without first needing reasonable suspicion that the person has consumed alcohol.