West Vancouver Councillor Acknowledges 24-Hour Driving Prohibition
District of West Vancouver Coun. Christine Cassidy, who also serves as vice-chairperson of the district's police board, has confirmed receiving a 24-hour roadside suspension following an incident on November 18, 2025.
Under British Columbia law, police officers issue 24-hour prohibitions when they have reasonable grounds to believe a driver's ability is impaired by alcohol or drugs. The driver must surrender their license, and ICBC receives notification of the suspension.
The Restaurant Encounter and Police Response
According to information provided to Postmedia News, a member of the public contacted authorities after observing someone they believed to be intoxicated leaving the Earls restaurant at Ambleside Beach. The caller provided police with both a vehicle description and license plate number.
Cassidy confirmed that a police officer approached her after she had already arrived home and was parked in front of her residence. "I got a 24-hour suspension and no more," she stated during a phone interview.
The councillor characterized the incident as a "nothing story" and revealed she had informed Mayor Mark Sager about it the following day. Cassidy said she and Sager consulted with a lawyer because she maintains a clean driving record and expressed concern about the situation.
Councillor Claims She Was Targeted by Restaurant Staff
Cassidy asserted that she consumed only two five-ounce glasses of wine over a three-hour period at Earls that evening. She insisted she was not walking unsteadily and suggested that "the person who called authorities should try walking in a pair of high heels."
The councillor made serious allegations against the restaurant staff, claiming she was "targeted" because she had informed a waiter about seeing mice "scurrying up the wall" during her visit. She also mentioned that the restaurant had previously failed a health inspection.
"Yes, yes, I was targeted. There's no question about it," Cassidy told Postmedia News.
Restaurant Management Denies Involvement
Earls management responded to these allegations by stating unequivocally that their staff did not contact police regarding Cassidy. The restaurant explained they have specific protocols for situations involving customers who may have been over-served, including using a WhatsApp chat and verbal communication when police need to be contacted.
Management confirmed they had no record of such protocols being activated for Cassidy's visit. Regarding health inspection issues, they clarified that the only recent problem involved a leak in their wine fridge, which was promptly repaired and certified by inspectors.
The incident raises questions about the intersection of public office, law enforcement, and public accountability, particularly given Cassidy's position on the police board that oversees the very department that issued the suspension.
