Massive B.C. music festival leads to hundreds of tickets for 'irresponsible' drivers

One of B.C.’s most popular music festivals recently wrapped up its 27th year, and many of the attendees had some trouble getting home after drivers ran afoul of the BC Highway Patrol (BCHP).

The BC RCMP division announced its enforcement results after the Shambhala Music Festival in Salmo River Ranch, revealing that “too many electronic music fans are still choosing to drive while impaired.”

Up to 50,000 people attended this year’s Shambhala from July 24 to 27, featuring some of the biggest names in electronic music.

However, hundreds of festival-goers started off the weekend with some expensive driving violations.

Shambhala

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According to BCHP, 311 speeding tickets and seven excessive speeding tickets were issued, with the latter including fines ranging from $368 to $483.

Ten tickets for occupant restraint/seatbelts, two tickets for using an electronic device while driving, and one for driving without due care and attention were also issued, costing hundreds of dollars each.

And 11 drivers were also ticketed for driving without insurance, facing a fine of $598.

BC Highway Patrol

“It’s concerning that so many people were driving with no insurance,” said Sgt. Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol (BCHP).

“And it’s particularly concerning combined with the high number of speeders. It shows a level of irresponsible decision-making, and we’d like to see safer behaviour on the roads that we all share.”

Just days later, at the end of the festival, two police roadblocks were set up to check people leaving Shambhala. That led to dozens of vehicles being towed and over 50 driving suspensions issued.

BC Highway Patrol/X

They included:

• 57 vehicles towed for mechanical safety or driver impairment
• 51 24-hour driving suspensions for drug impairment
• 50 violation tickets for a variety of BC MVA offences
• 8 vehicles immediately taken off the road due to major mechanical defects

“We asked people before the event to make sure they allowed drugs to clear their system before driving, but too many ignored that advice,” added Sgt. McLaughlin.

“It looks like we will have to be back next year, and hopefully in greater numbers, to deal with festivalgoers who are driving unsafely.”