B.C. Driver Faces Fines After Speeding in Car Modified with Duct Tape and Welded Gate Latch
A British Columbia man has been fined and his vehicle impounded after Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers stopped him for speeding in a car they described as being held together with duct tape and wishful thinking. The incident occurred earlier this month near Christina Lake, southeast of Kelowna, close to the U.S. border.
Creative but Illegal Modifications Draw Police Attention
According to B.C. RCMP highway patrol, officers clocked the 22-year-old driver traveling at 130 km/h in an 80 km/h zone on the afternoon of January 9. What caught their attention wasn't just the excessive speed, but the condition of the vehicle itself.
Police discovered the driver had replaced his missing door handle with a welded gate latch, a modification Corporal Michael McLaughlin called a level of creativity rarely seen. The rear window had been substituted with rebar and duct tape, while the body showed hammered-out dents covered with spray paint.
It's amazing that this particular car could go that fast without disintegrating, McLaughlin stated in a news release. He compared the vehicle's appearance to having been chewed up by Robosaurus, referencing the transforming dinosaur robot created in 1989.
Substantial Penalties for Dangerous Driving
The driver received multiple penalties for his actions:
- A $368 fine for excessive speeding
- Costs for towing and a seven-day vehicle impoundment
- High-risk driver premiums under B.C. law
- Increased insurance costs for at least three years
Police awarded the Kelowna man 10 points for creativity but zero for legality, emphasizing that his vehicle was not roadworthy. The car has been ordered off the road until all defects are repaired and it passes a proper motor vehicle inspection.
Important Safety Reminders from RCMP
Corporal McLaughlin provided crucial safety advice for vehicle owners: Any time you modify an essential component of your vehicle, including door locks, windows, steering, brakes, or suspension, you need to get that vehicle inspected.
He added a pointed reminder: And if you're driving in a vehicle that's obviously not roadworthy, you probably shouldn't speed. Police can't ignore that.
B.C.'s Vehicle Inspection Requirements
Unlike some provinces including Ontario and New Brunswick, British Columbia's Ministry of Transport and Transit does not require regular or mandatory safety inspections for personal-use cars, SUVs, or light trucks. This places additional responsibility on vehicle owners to ensure their cars meet safety standards before taking them on public roads.
The incident serves as a stark reminder about the importance of vehicle maintenance and road safety, particularly when drivers choose to modify their vehicles in unconventional ways.
