Here's what the penalties and fines look like for traffic offences in B.C.
If you’ve ever wondered how much specific traffic infractions could cost you in penalties and fines in B.C., we’ve got some answers for you.
It’s not just monetary fines that you could be punished with for speeding or being caught distracted driving, among other traffic infractions; you might also be hit with penalty points.
ICBC also lists some infractions that you might’ve never heard of.
Speeding penalties and fines in B.C.
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According to ICBC, if you’re caught speeding, every type of speeding infraction can cost you three penalty points.
Excessive speeding could lead to a fine between $368 and $483. If you’re caught speeding in a school zone, that carries a fine between $196 and $253, and it also applies to speeding in a playground zone.
If you’re caught speeding on a municipal line, you can be fined $138. Speeding against a highway sign could cost you $138 to $196.
Heavy commercial vehicle operators also have their own infractions to worry about. If you operate a heavy commercial vehicle and don’t have a limiter, you can be fined up to $368. If you have a speed limiter and it’s not set to the prescribed maximum rate of speed, that also carries a $368 fine. The same fine applies to folks who have a speed limiter that isn’t activated.
While there are other specific speeding infractions, these are likely the most common.
Distracting driving fines in B.C.
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There are two main distracted driving offences that you could be fined and penalized for in the province.
One is for using an electronic device while driving, which carries a $368 fine and a deduction of four penalty points.
The same fine and penalty deduction applies if you’re caught emailing or texting while driving.
Penalties and fines for other driving offences in B.C.
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B.C. has a penalty and fine for almost every driving behaviour you could imagine, including one for opening a door while unsafe, which carries a fine of $368 and a two-point penalty deduction.
Opening your door while unsafe carries a bigger fine than driving on the sidewalk, which only carries an $81 fine and a two-point deduction.
There are a few fines for certain types of interactions with police.
If you fail to stop for the police, you will be fined $144 and receive three penalty points. Failing to obey police direction carries a $109 fine with a two-point penalty deduction.
There’s never a time when there isn’t construction taking place in Vancouver, and there are several fines related to driving in construction zones. If you disobey construction signs, you can be fined from $196 up to $253 and receive three penalty points. If you disobey a traffic flagger, that can lead to a $196 fine with three penalty points.
We’ve also done stories about infractions related to driving in an area where fire crews are responding to an incident. If you drive over a fire hose, you will be fined $81 and receive two penalty points. If you follow a fire truck too closely, that’ll cost you the same fine and penalty as driving past a fire hose.
We’ve also done lots of stories about ‘N’ and ‘L’ driving infractions. If you fail to display your ‘L’ sign, that can cost you $109, but no penalty points; it’s the same for ‘N’ drivers.
Folks who are displaying an illegible licence plate can be hit with a $230 fine without a penalty deduction, and the same goes for an improperly displayed plate. An improperly displayed plate is not attached to the front and rear of the vehicle if two are required, or if a plate is obstructed or dirty.
If you’re a motorcycle rider, there are a few fines you should be aware of, including having a passenger unlawfully on your motorcycle, which carries a $109 fine. If you’re caught riding without a helmet, you can be fined $138. Neither carries a penalty deduction.
If you fail to wear a seatbelt, or if you have a passenger who isn’t wearing a seatbelt, or if you have a car that doesn’t have seatbelts for some reason, all of those infractions carry a $167 fine, without a point deduction.
The fine that could cost you the most is illegal use or possession of a driver’s licence. The fine can range between $460 and $23,000! Illegal use of a permit or insurance also carries a pretty hefty fine of $115 up to $2,300.
Driving while prohibited or suspended can also lead to a fine of $575 up to $2,300, and both come with a potential deduction of 10 points.
These are just some of the most common traffic penalties and fines in B.C., and ICBC has a full list of potential driving infractions. The BC Ministry of Transportation also has a comprehensive and detailed list of every possible driving infraction that you could face.
Do you think the province needs to increase the monetary amounts for these driving infractions, or do you believe they are fair? Let us know in the comments.