BC taxi drivers are now legally required to wear seat belts

Taxi drivers in BC are now legally required to wear a seatbelt at all times when behind the wheel of their vehicle, after an exemption in province’s Motor Vehicle Act was recently repealed.

In a release on Friday, North Vancouver RCMP said up until this past September, cab drivers used to be exempt from buckling up so long as they were driving under 70 km/h.

That exemption ended when Section 32.02 was repealed on September 15.

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Now, under the law, cab drivers must wear seat belts “just like everyone else,” and any driver caught not wearing one may receive a violation ticket under Section 220(4) of the Motor Vehicle Act with a fine of $167. They won’t, however, lose any driving points.

The move was applauded by North Vancouver RCMP Sgt. Peter DeVries.

“Thankfully this closes one more door on a past that was blind to the simple fact that seat belts save lives,” he said.