B.C. RCMP highway patrol released dash-camera footage of a motorcyclist passing on the right shoulder and crashing into a pickup truck that had pulled over for police, issuing fines and a seven-day vehicle impound to the rider.
Incident on Highway 1
On June 18, heavy traffic clogged Highway 1 near East 1st Avenue in Vancouver. A 37-year-old Chilliwack man riding a black Harley-Davidson passed a highway patrol officer using the right shoulder lane. The officer activated lights and siren, prompting a blue pickup truck in a right-turn lane to signal and pull to the right.
“Instead of doing the same thing, the motorcyclist continued passing on the right, which resulted in running over a road sign and into the rear of the blue pickup,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin in a news release on Thursday.
Dash Camera Captures Crash and Arrest
The illegal manoeuvre, crash, and arrest were recorded on the police cruiser’s dash camera. The rider fell over a concrete divider, got up, and walked to confront the pickup driver. The officer followed and handcuffed him.
“Passing on the right enrages other motorists, but that’s not the main reason that it’s illegal,” said McLaughlin. “The side of the road has rocks, sand, garbage, shredded truck tires and other hazards, and if someone pulls off the road suddenly, you could end up badly hurt or worse.”
Fines and Impound
The rider was briefly arrested for flight from police, then released with a $109 ticket for passing on the right and a $196 ticket for driving without consideration. His motorcycle was impounded for seven days. The Harley was too damaged to ride, but the motorcyclist suffered only minor injuries.
“We’re glad no one was hurt, but too many motorcyclists are passing on the right on Highway 1,” said McLaughlin. “Consider this a warning to everyone: B.C. highway patrol can and will ticket drivers who pass on the right.”
