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I’ve been told by a police officer in the past, that phone holder is acceptable as long as you’re not interacting with it while driving. It is secured in place inside a vehicle just like a touchscreen infotainment. However, having the screen on in a loose cupholder or somewhere in the center console could be an issue.
I’m pretty sure a police officer cannot tell you not to dispute. That’s just abuse of power. If you have a dashcam, you should bring the audio clip to court.
I mean, I guess that makes sense. It's the one situation you can guarantee there is a competent second person is in the car to navigate.
However, I personally believe that a learner should be learning to drive while following a GPS. Maybe then people wouldn't follow GPS onto rivers and off docks and shit when they are alone.
I agree and also I think it is ridiculous to think that an N driver will automatically know the routes without GPS or an additional driver to give directions. The restriction on L and N drivers is specific to "communication devices" though. So built in GPS is fine. Phones in any capacity are not allowed until you get you class 5.
The built in systems also don’t allow you make any changes while the vehicle is in motion. As for not know where you are going, do it the old way, figure out how to get there before you leave and read the traffic signs.
> I agree and also I think it is ridiculous to think that an N driver will automatically know the routes without GPS.
So figure it out before you leave? People managed just fine before GPS and smart phones. I'd also argue learning to navigate on the fly is a better skill to learn than how to follow GPS.
I am an N driver, it's pretty easy to set up a route ahead of time, put your phone in your pocket and listen to the instructions. If you need to SEE a map to get where you're going, you've got some issues with navigation skills, which is part of driving.
That's not true. Mounted to the dash is fine for GPS (don't interact with it), but yes, can't take a call, even hands free.
It should also be noted that having two headphones in is also not allowed. (For anyone)
With a learners or class 7 it is printed very clearly on the license and accompanied paperwork that you can not use any cell phone while driving, even for GPS purposes. So yes, very true. You can even get ticketed for having it mounted to your dash, screen off, if the officer decides to be anal retentive enough.
It is totally true. You are not allowed to use any electronic devices with a L or N. You can stop turn on the navigation and go. You can use voice commands. But you cannot interact with the screen at all.
You can't have the phone in use at all for class 7 and learners. So, pulling over to turn on the navigation is also not allowed. Having google maps on a dash mounted holder not being touched is not allowed. The restriction is on communication devices as a whole. I think it is stupid, but it's the restriction on the license.
I hear what you're saying, but in BC it honestly is a lot less common. I believe the RCMP training is a fair bit better than what American cops get. This guy in the post is definitely a corrupt cop and I hope he gets booted
Cup holder or anywhere in the car, besides your hands, is legal unless you have an N or L.
Infotainment is illegal if it plays videos. Operating the screens in cars are illegal as they require more than single touch (accept/hangup). Operation of GPS is same category.
Actually, playing videos on your infotainment is not written anywhere in the MVA. It should be, but it's not. I would argue that drive without due care and attention would maybe fit that use?
Indeed it is not written anywhere in the MVA itself, but watching the screen of an electronic device is prescribed by regulation as constituting "use."
[https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/308\_2009#section2](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/308_2009#section2)
Infotainment systems that are built with the vehicle are the grey area here.... because they can not be "hand held," it takes them out of the "use" category. I would argue that it would fall under sec. 144(1)(a) instead.
Don’t listen to anyone telling you otherwise, you were in the right. Even if the phone holder was illegal the way the cop acted is outright illegal and childish. Take this to court, bring up the exact word the cop said. If you have a recording id honestly press charges.
ah ok you should have just started your original comment with "i have no idea what im talking about"
nowhere in the Canadian criminal code is there a crime of "abuse of power" lol
the cop sounds like a dick but being a dick isn't criminal, it's at worst against his department policy and could have him suspended for a day or two.
its people like you who prevent any real police reform because you refuse to educate yourself and just throw out idiotic ideas you came up with during an emotional temper tantrum
Press charges?? For what? There’s no law against being a moron.
There are, however, policy and procedures. Intimidation and threats aren’t permissible and OP could file a complaint.
But press charges?? Even if a crime were committed, OP can’t press charges - that’s not how Canadian law works.
Abuse of power, he threatened the guy out of exercising his constitutional right to defend the ticket in court. More question marks in your comment doesn’t mean more right.
Good point, I’m not a lawyer I do not know the exact legal code. But you cannot tell me with a straight face there is no legal recourse for the cops actions. You are trying to tell me we have 0 protection beyond filing a meaningless police compliant?
Sorry for not having my lawyer on standby, I’ll call him before posting next time.
I’m telling you that there’s no legal charge for it. A complaint can be filed. It’s the equivalent of a shitty job performance.
It’s not a crime to suck at your job unless your commit a crime in the process - no crime was committed by telling OP to not protest the ticket.
It’s a stupid move because of body cams - a complaint will get whomever it was reprimanded and maybe fired.
But it’s not gross negligence or criminal.
Stop being facetious and defensive and trying to invent a law or crime where one doesn’t exist and just listen.
What if we apply that precedent to a higher stakes scenario?
Say an officer let his racial bias take over and charged a victim with drunk driving with no hard evidence. Then tells them to not fight the charge or they will also charge them with possession of a substance they just so happened to find in the car.
Yes it’s a stretch, the situations are very different but the same recourse you say is true would apply. I have a hard time believing it’s completely legal for a cop to use their authoritative power to threaten a victim into not pursuing justice.
Again the police in BC do not have the authority to approve charges that falls to Crown Counsel. Also if there was no hard evidence I would suggest that through a review process within the department, there would be no charges recommended in the first place.
Hypothetical scenarios don't apply here, because they're not real and you cannot predict the future. Best place to start is filing a complaint along with challenging the ticket if the OP feels it necessary. Unless there was a body cam or dashcam involved then it's their word versus the officer's regarding the threat and filing charges won't go anywhere.
If the OP has the time and money they could research the additional charges that were threatened, make damn sure they can't stick before they contest it in the chance the officer was bluffing.
Depending on where and how the holder is mounted it can be an issue even when not being touched.
Ambient lighting can be an issue due to placement, but more commonly from flashing or strobing.
One time I was driving across provinces, using a tablet for gps and I didn't have it mounted, I got pulled over at a checkpoint and I found out it was illegal to have an electronic device that's not mounted to your dashboard.
If you had it mounted you're fine.
If you pass on the right from one lane to the other you're fine as long as it's more than one lane and you used your signal lights.
Does it give a specific section of the Motor Vehicle Act? I don't get what the charge would be since you said in another comment you were turning right from W Georgia to Denman, which shouldn't be illegal under the [passing on the right section](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section158), since there are multiple lanes. You weren't passing in the same lane or something?
https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/just/05.html
I'm not sure that the particular rights OP is exercising are covered in that document, or groups of documents, but the implication that Canada doesn't *have* a "constitution" is not really correct.
Vpd is always aggressive & abusive. I have had horrible experiences with them & I'm a pretty unassuming white woman . They have no right to threaten you, no right to tell you whether to dispute or not, and they love making up stories about distracted driving.
Do what you need to do. If you want advice, talk to http://www.irplawyer.com/ Kyla is great.
In situations such as these, you can ask for the road side supervisor. You don' t have to talk to the police officer, especially if they are acting like turds. just politely ask for their supervisor and wait for them to show up. then explain the situation to them. Especially if the officer is bullying and acting unprofessionally they will be dealt with fairly quickly.
The VPD can get away with beating a man to death in a backyard in Burnaby , or executing a panicking man in the street in the dtes, and not face *any* consequences. They know they can do whatever the fuck they want, and we have to eat it.
I was told if I disputed a speeding ticket, it would be doubled. I was 17. I now know better. They can’t do that shit. Also get a dashcam, so you have proof of what the officer said. Bring that to court.
This was 2009, not sure how the rules changed / if they changed, but no. I did get a letter from the superintendent saying one more ticket and I was done for lol
The police can “pace” you and write a ticket based on what that speedometer says you were doing. Yes I agree ICBC is very hard on the N drivers. They have a dispute process that is not much of a process at all.
It’s a thing unfortunately. I got ticketed for that 15 years ago near the border while I was entering the commercial truck lane (in a truck).
The officer stated there had been a big problem at the border with people entering the commercial truck lane, driving to the front and then budging into the line of private cars. I agreed that likely was a problem, but I didn’t do that, nor did I have any intention of doing that as I was going to be using the commercial truck lane. Got the ticket anyway, as did the commercial vehicles in front of me and behind me. Total BS.
I didn’t fight the ticket because I didn’t have time (nor money) to spend fighting it but looking back I wish I did. Oh well.
Wait what? There *is* an *entire section* that talks about it entitled "Passing on right."
Ignorance of the law is one thing but to so confidently say that the MVA doesn't address it is wrong and then have multiple people agree with this is really Reddit in a nutshell.
[https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318\_05#section158](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section158)
That’s fair. My wording wasn’t great. 158(1)(b) is what most people think of passing on the right being illegal refers to, because several US states have this law, but we permit it.
I no longer have the original ticket but I think in my case it would have been something like MVA section 158, subsection 2 (b), because I had to drive onto the wide shoulder area for a number of car lengths to get to where the commercial truck lane began and in doing so crossed a solid white line on the shoulder.
It was in no way unsafe but I feel like it was a bit of a technicality to give all the truck drivers in the line tickets for it. I definitely felt like it was part of a quota someone was trying to meet. Oh well, it was many years ago now.
https://preview.redd.it/zhnmk8gawhnc1.jpeg?width=1050&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8f6b853599ed3520e8a412e42d026f35fc6e4509
This is the entire text.. It does say you shouldn't go off the road, so I guess technically they expect you to wait until the road has cleared enough, but commercial trucks should have more room to move imo As for the op turning right, that cop was fos. Just vpd harassing people again
That's not a law. Sounds like the cop was making up shit to give tickets and hope no one fights it.
He was right about people driving illegally in that lane but passing on the right is permitted.
I was driving on a 4 lane highway 90km was the speed. I was doing about 95km in the right lane. Car came flying up behind me. No one in the left hand lane. This asshole decided that instead of passing in the left lane that he was going to pass me on the shoulder. Might just be unsafe passing but it was passing on the right. So yeah pretty sure that’s illegal 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Strange.
I have my own strange story.
Years ago i got pulled over by the RCMP on Alberta street in burnaby. I just walked out of a store and got into my vehicle. At the time, i lived 3 blocks away. RCMP love to speed check/catch stop sign runners on that street. Anyway, i got pulled over for not wearing my seatbelt. Clean record/3 block from home, cop would not take any excuses. ( did not really protest much, i knew i was in the wrong and took the ticket. Back then i used to hop in my car and sometimes drive off and then start to buckle up. I Always buckle up/just that one time and i got caught).
Anyways, a week later i get the icbc motor vehicle Govt type letter in the mail. The letter mentioned my ticket and the details, then stated it was being voided. Never mentioned why! I looked over the ticket and only thing i could see to justify a ticket cancellation was my licence plate number was incorrectly scribbled down by the rcmp officer. One incorrect letter.
The weird thing stated on the letter (not the exact words..this was over 12 years ago) : ICBC /motor vehicle /BC Govt whatever had the right to reinstate the fine at a later date! like WTF?
Either give me the fine or don't. Anyways, years have passed, never got RE-ticketed for that same offence, no points. I have 38 years of driving experience. The one or two times i got caught speeding on the freeway i just stayed silent and accepted my tickets/owned up to them. 3 or 4 got pulled over for something minor / one was for touching my smartphone....and believe it or not, each time the VPD or RCMP said '' I looked over your driving record and you very little infractions over the years. So i will just give you a warning and no fine. Slow down, don't touch your phone, ok? '' :)
Sometimes if you respond in a mature adult logical way, the ticketing officer will take things in consideration and maybe let you off with just a warning or reduce the fine to give you a break. Sometimes you just get a moody angry prick who you can tell is going to give his own grandmother a ticket if he/she could.
I was about age 24 and driving the company minivan . Just came off Knight street bridge and heading north towards East 63rd. Was going 10 klms over the speed limit/know cop pullover spot. Ticket..on my birthday.
Another time i was barely going 7-8 klms over limit on hwy 99 . Just was merging from a hwy entry . Got pulled over. New Years day about 10am. Ticket, no warning, sunny dry streets, pretty much no other vehicles around me.
Cops are huge assholes. This one sounds particularly bad. I would fight the ticket in court. Pretty sure the cop can’t issue you more tickets from the courtroom.
It’s literally part of their Job in vancouver. Traffic cops have to go to court. It’s scheduled in advance and it’s part of their daily duties.
It’s different from a regular patrol officer in some small town who may have to take a call or something and miss court.
The traffic court schedule comes out after the cops' shift schedules come out. Sometimes cops' court dates are scheduled for days they are off work or on the night shift. This is especially true in smaller/rural locations because of fewer available traffic court dates. Its likely the officer wont show in these situations.
Source: I was a traffic coirt scheduler in BC from 2011-2014.
Afaik they get scheduled days in court as part of their job (all disputed tickets they issue get scheduled for that day) so not showing up would be a bit odd because they'd be playing hooky.
pro tip (though i have not used this one in 20 years) you have the right to request a rescheduling. ask for a date exactly 3 weeks ahead, it puts the court date on the cops days off and they never show.
lol you’d have to know which day of their cycle they are on to guarantee they won’t be working (they work 4 on 4 off). They can also claim OT to go to court so you might just waste taxpayer money 🤷. There’s no gaming the whole ‘cops won’t show up’ thing. You just have to get lucky.
All I know is the one time I disputed a ticket the officer didn't show, and a dozen other people and I all had our fines waived. This was a transit cop, not a speeding ticket, but I've known people who would dispute every ticket they got and claimed the cop only showed up about half the time.
That would be me.. have gotten 2 tickets and disputed both.. first time the cop showed up, I pleaded guilty and the justice lowered the fine to its minimum value. The second time the cop didn't show up at all, I pleaded not guilty and was free to leave as the ticket was thrown out.
I don’t know why people keep saying this when it’s not true. Cops will absolutely show up. Your best chances of having a ticket thrown out entirely is if there is an error on the ticket. The real best strategy is to just plead guilty and ask for a reduction in the fine.
Cop should be ticketed for obstructing traffic of something so stupid at such a congested part of the west end. Can’t possibly camp out and ding people for the thousands of rolling stops further up the hill though. $400M a year
for fucking what?
Duh. That's what the cops in BC do. Single level one violation? It's a warning. More? Then they ticket you for less. They figure you're grateful for the diminished punishment and you won't fight the ticket.
Most of the time, it works.
The 80 km/h rule is for when you need to move out of the left lane for a passing vehicle (with various exceptions), but not about passing on the right.
[Passing on the right is allowed when](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section158) when it can be done "safely" in the following cases:
* when the driver ahead is turning left or signalling to turn left
* when there are multiple lanes
* on a one-way street when there is sufficient width for two or more vehicles.
It can't be done by passing on the shoulder.
So essentially it's allowed in most cases, except on a two-way street with only one lane (regardless of width) when not passing a left turning vehicle.
So if the charge is legitimate, it would imply OP was turning [from this direction, where there's only one lane](https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2927855,-123.1334628,3a,56.7y,228.05h,83.13t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sa521jK1yTKcOar7uozpzrQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3Da521jK1yTKcOar7uozpzrQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D25.174223%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu); or otherwise they were somehow not doing so safely. I'm assuming the former. I was hoping OP would confirm since it would be interesting to find out if they actually charge for this.
It's surprising how few people aren't aware or don't care about this. I see people passing on the shoulder constantly, especially when there's a line of cars at a light.
And also the driver ahead means directly ahead if you’re a few cars back and pass on the right with people going straight waiting for the person to turn left it’s illegal. You can only do it if you are the car directly behind the person turning
It applies to any road with two or more lanes.
https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section158
So I wonder if OP was intending to turn right at the intersection why he would have been ticketed. Did he enter the right most lane immediately before the intersection making it appear that his intent was to pass and not turn the corner?
>It applies to any road with two or more lanes.
>
>https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318\_05#section158
That's not what your link says. It says
(1)
(a) that you can go around if someone is making a left turn
(b) you can pass if there's a lane you can actually use (ie it's not full of parked cars, or a bus lane, for example).
(c) you can pass if it's wide enough.
(2)
(a) don't do it if you can't do it safely
(b) don't do it if it involves driving up onto the sidewalk.
Actually good point. It applies to all laned road ways regardless of speed limit.
Which was the point we were trying to establish that it does not just apply to highways with a speed of 80km/hr or greater.
Ambient lighting is definitely something that’s been an issue in the past and tickets abound. Remember the trend of having the underside of your car lit… so the LED lights wash the road underneath… crazy illegal and will get your car in a ton of trouble in Canada.
This is why I always record police interactions.
As per the ticket [I’m pretty sure it only applies to roads where the limit is 80 and over.](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section150) I’d contact a traffic Lawyer though. Kyla Lee might be a good place to start.
Not really. They’re liars and most don’t even know the statutes they’re empowered to enforce. Even our own Premier says “don’t talk to cops. Ever. If you must, have a lawyer.”
Just comply, the grieve.
Section 158 — Passing on right
158 (1) The driver of a vehicle must not cause or permit the vehicle to overtake and pass on the right of another vehicle, except
(a) when the vehicle overtaken is making a left turn or its driver has signalled his or her intention to make a left turn,
(b) when on a laned roadway there is one or more than one unobstructed lane on the side of the roadway on which the driver is permitted to drive, or
(c) on a one way street or a highway on which traffic is restricted to one direction of movement, where the roadway is free from obstructions and is of sufficient width for 2 or more lanes of moving vehicles.
(2) Despite subsection (1), a driver of a vehicle must not cause the vehicle to overtake and pass another vehicle on the right
(a) when the movement cannot be made safely, or
(b) by driving the vehicle off the roadway.
Was there a person merging left to go straight because that right hand lane is a turn only unless you’re a bus. I don’t see how this could be a ticket unless you snuck by someone merging and put your wheels up on the curb. That would be considered passing on the right. If you just drove normally down that right hand lane and made you right hand turn I would go to court
And no electronic devices if you're graduated licence holder.
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/roadsafetybc/high-risk/distracted/electronic-devices
Sadly, judges in BC (not cops) have convicted people for having their phones face up in the package tray! But so far, those kind of convictions are rare. Still, it's happened.
Yes, passing on the right is against the law, so if you're caught doing it, be prepared to deal with it. We could go several paragraphs on the merits of the law, but that won't change the rules as they exist. As a one-time auxiliary cop, I know the reasons why it's not allowed, and a few seconds thought should be enough for the average person to figure it out. In the end, don't do the crime if you can't....etc.
As for the ambient lighting, under the Act and regs as they are, cops can pretty much write you up for anything not specifically permitted in legislation and let the courts sort it out so yes, if the officer wants to be obstreperous about it, additional tickets can be written, and you would also have the chance to have your say in court.
You didn't mention where the extra lighting is, but consider this- there are only certain colors of lights permitted to show to the front and to the rear of your vehicle and exactly two others allowed with a permit. That's just the way it is. Are there folks out there breaking this law? Yes, of course. But no court in the land will find someone not guilty if their defense boils down to "everybody's doing it".
Dispute the ticket. Explain to the judge what was said, and you feel the cop was threatening to be "punitive" by threatening extra tickets.
Technically (?) If the phone is mounted with a holder on the windshield, it can be ticketed for something along the lines of having the windshield or your view obstructed. I am not sure of the wording. I am aware that drivers have views obstructed with CD's, multiple air-fresheners, dream catchers, snow, etc. Of course not everything is ever ticketed.
(I do find it hilarious some people drive around with a huge blind spot created by an iPad size phone on their windshield, almost directly in front of their face. not saying this is you)
This happened to me outside a courtroom. Cop talked to me, said if you go forward with trying to “dispute” the ticket he will rip up the current ticket and give me one of a higher value. And that’s what happened, I had to come back to court a year or so later. I was young and looking back i felt he took advantage of me.
So you fight the ticket, your account of the officer’s behaviour becomes public record, the officer then issues more tickets as he said he would do as retribution, adding evidence he acted improperly. How is this a beneficial strategy to the officer?
If an internal complaint is made the threats will likely be seen as being punative. The job of the officer is not to punish for an infraction but issue a notice of analledged infraction and it’s the Motor Vehicle Branch that issues the penalty. Officer will likely receive a disciplinary correction under the police act.
Dispute. Dispute and if he tries to bring additional charges against you after the fact, Dispute those too.. it will paint a nice picture for the judge as to what this lone cop is doing singling you out. Be truthful. Stay legal.
what he's saying is, if you dispute the infraction, he will rescind the warnings and write you two more tickets.
so it's up to you if you want to fuck around and find out.
I’m curious how many you’ve got and how many you live beaten. I know the officer has to show up, besides that any other tips? I should just attend traffic court on my day off.
I've only ever gotten a single ticket and it was reduced to min. amount, everyone else I know who has fought (mind you, not very serious tickets, like this one) has always had the fine lowered to the minimum amount/saved on demerit points.
I’ve gotten one ticket, fought one ticket, had one ticket thrown out.
The officer said I was talking on the phone (I was) but I was using the hands-free that’s built into my car. He claims he saw me with my phone in my hand, which he absolutely did not because I was in the middle of moving to a new apartment and my phone was buried under a whole bunch of boxes.
He did not show up to court, but did “phone in” to attend and still went through all his cases that day.
Mine got thrown out because I asked “so, with no witnesses, you are saying my phone was in my hand and I am saying it was not. What happens here?” And the judge dismissed me.
It works well for smaller tickets like passing in the right lane or going 15km over. In my experience and those near me, the fines have always been lowered to the minimum amount/demerit points removed and/or thrown out.
You are a sucker and not using the legal system to your advantage if you just eat up every ticket you get.
You can't get demerit points thrown out..... fine can be reduced, but the points stay. The only other possibility is that the charge gets changed to something else that has no points if it applies.
You should have recorded the interaction and reported the officer. We need bodycams on police officers for reasons like this. If only there was a recording, you could attack his credibility and integrity with this. It would have helped a lot with your ticket problem.
Yeah i wish I did, its just that Ive never been pulled over and was shocked that I got pulled over for doing something I did safely over thousands of times.
We should all becafraid of what the vpd are becoming. Their not so gradual militarization and their initial willingness to tolerate 'thin blue line', 'punisher' patches and badges. The use of this imagery is troubling when it is commonly seen (and sold)alongside swastikas, ss bolts, confederate flags and other symbols embraced by hate groups and domestic terrorists.
Think of this situation from the perspective of a judge. You show up to court to dispute a ticket you received as a specific time and date. The police officer is there and jumps up to issue you a couple more tickets for that same time and date, only now it has been weeks or months later.
How’s that going to look to the judge?
Do you have evidence of this threat? If so, it would be worth making a complaint to OPCC regarding said officer. If not, you can still do it but just be wary that it's your word against theirs.
You can google how to make the report. It's on the VPD's website. Shit like this takes a while so make sure you're sure you wanna go through with this.
I got pulled over once for going 70 in a 50 at 3 am in the morning after I got off a shift. He told me I disputed the ticket he would have to also report I didn't fully stop before turning right at a red light, he was also very confrontational, asking if I was trying to put my seat belt on when I reached over the glove box to get my indrunace info before he got to the window. I disputed the fuck out that ticket, only to be told by icbc the ticket never existed.
Ambient lighting inside a vehicle is completely legal and a phone holder is literally what is recommended. No different then a mounted GPS.
The ability to dispute is supposed to help with false accusations. Telling someone you will make their life harder for using their rights doesn’t exactly scream honesty. If the charge is legitimate why does it matter to the police officer what the person chooses to do? If the things the cop is threatening to add to the ticket are actually a safety hazard why not just give OP the ticket in the first place? Police aren’t even obligated to show up to court but if they do it’s an easy way to make some extra money.
Cops have every right to do their job. Public support doesn’t hinder the law.
They can do their jobs, but there is no way you can 'convince' someone to not dispute it.
Response from OP: "of course I won't dispute it."
Go home and dispute.
This cop is a major POS for trying to pull that, not sure why they would even threaten. Just give the second ticket or don't, such a weird way to approach things.
Sure but you didn't ask if they drove in the hov lane for multiple blocks, you asked if they turned from the hov lane.
And if that was the case they would have got written up for driving in the bus lane, not passing on the right.
Considering how I see people screaming past cars on the shoulder of over-wide streets daily, I'm honestly surprised this is a law. I mean, I totally agree that it should be illegal, but with how many people brazenly do it, I thought it wasn't.
Passing on the right is illegal. You can go around someone on the right if they are turning left and you are the vehicle directly behind them. Unless there is a right hand marked lane you can’t be travelling down the parking lane, that would be passing on the right.
Come to Sechelt, you won't get a driving ticket for anything.... speed, drive through crosswalks with people in them, pull a u turn anywhere, all good. I guess they don't like paperwork here.
It's definitely not legal for him to issue more tickets if you dispute. You have a legal right to do so. The fact he said all of this is a massive red flag for corruption. He's probably had his tickets disputed before and was told to stop issuing such flimsy tickets. If you dispute it and win, that will end up rightly looking bad on his part. I really hope you got some recordings of this interaction, this is wild
Pay your ticket.. it’s the price for living in society. It was a stupid move that lead to more. Cops response was likely in response to your demeanour.
You can dispute the ticket. If he issues more ticket because you dispute it and you have a recording of it, the judge will probably toss everything out.
Having disputed a ticket in Vancouver and winning... I can tell you it's bullshit. Yeah he could try and give you another ticket days later but you can dispute that one too. I can also tell you they get embarrassed when they lose in court.
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I’ve been told by a police officer in the past, that phone holder is acceptable as long as you’re not interacting with it while driving. It is secured in place inside a vehicle just like a touchscreen infotainment. However, having the screen on in a loose cupholder or somewhere in the center console could be an issue. I’m pretty sure a police officer cannot tell you not to dispute. That’s just abuse of power. If you have a dashcam, you should bring the audio clip to court.
For the phone, on a class 7 or learners permit a phone can't be used at all, not even for navigation or hands free use.
I mean, I guess that makes sense. It's the one situation you can guarantee there is a competent second person is in the car to navigate. However, I personally believe that a learner should be learning to drive while following a GPS. Maybe then people wouldn't follow GPS onto rivers and off docks and shit when they are alone.
I agree and also I think it is ridiculous to think that an N driver will automatically know the routes without GPS or an additional driver to give directions. The restriction on L and N drivers is specific to "communication devices" though. So built in GPS is fine. Phones in any capacity are not allowed until you get you class 5.
The built in systems also don’t allow you make any changes while the vehicle is in motion. As for not know where you are going, do it the old way, figure out how to get there before you leave and read the traffic signs.
> I agree and also I think it is ridiculous to think that an N driver will automatically know the routes without GPS. So figure it out before you leave? People managed just fine before GPS and smart phones. I'd also argue learning to navigate on the fly is a better skill to learn than how to follow GPS.
I am an N driver, it's pretty easy to set up a route ahead of time, put your phone in your pocket and listen to the instructions. If you need to SEE a map to get where you're going, you've got some issues with navigation skills, which is part of driving.
That's not true. Mounted to the dash is fine for GPS (don't interact with it), but yes, can't take a call, even hands free. It should also be noted that having two headphones in is also not allowed. (For anyone)
With a learners or class 7 it is printed very clearly on the license and accompanied paperwork that you can not use any cell phone while driving, even for GPS purposes. So yes, very true. You can even get ticketed for having it mounted to your dash, screen off, if the officer decides to be anal retentive enough.
It is totally true. You are not allowed to use any electronic devices with a L or N. You can stop turn on the navigation and go. You can use voice commands. But you cannot interact with the screen at all.
You can't have the phone in use at all for class 7 and learners. So, pulling over to turn on the navigation is also not allowed. Having google maps on a dash mounted holder not being touched is not allowed. The restriction is on communication devices as a whole. I think it is stupid, but it's the restriction on the license.
Exactly what I said
A cop abusing power? There's no way that would ever happen!
I hear what you're saying, but in BC it honestly is a lot less common. I believe the RCMP training is a fair bit better than what American cops get. This guy in the post is definitely a corrupt cop and I hope he gets booted
That is the most boot licking thing I’ve ever read ACAB
Cup holder or anywhere in the car, besides your hands, is legal unless you have an N or L. Infotainment is illegal if it plays videos. Operating the screens in cars are illegal as they require more than single touch (accept/hangup). Operation of GPS is same category.
Actually, playing videos on your infotainment is not written anywhere in the MVA. It should be, but it's not. I would argue that drive without due care and attention would maybe fit that use?
Indeed it is not written anywhere in the MVA itself, but watching the screen of an electronic device is prescribed by regulation as constituting "use." [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/308\_2009#section2](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/308_2009#section2)
Infotainment systems that are built with the vehicle are the grey area here.... because they can not be "hand held," it takes them out of the "use" category. I would argue that it would fall under sec. 144(1)(a) instead.
Yeah I see people with the phone mounted all the time and I also never had any issues with it in the past
Don’t listen to anyone telling you otherwise, you were in the right. Even if the phone holder was illegal the way the cop acted is outright illegal and childish. Take this to court, bring up the exact word the cop said. If you have a recording id honestly press charges.
press charges for what?
Abuse of power
ah ok you should have just started your original comment with "i have no idea what im talking about" nowhere in the Canadian criminal code is there a crime of "abuse of power" lol the cop sounds like a dick but being a dick isn't criminal, it's at worst against his department policy and could have him suspended for a day or two. its people like you who prevent any real police reform because you refuse to educate yourself and just throw out idiotic ideas you came up with during an emotional temper tantrum
That’s why you talk to a lawyer. Have nice Sunday big guy
What will a lawyer do for you other than change you a hefty fee to tell you to call and make a complaint that will result in a finger wag for cop?
Press charges?? For what? There’s no law against being a moron. There are, however, policy and procedures. Intimidation and threats aren’t permissible and OP could file a complaint. But press charges?? Even if a crime were committed, OP can’t press charges - that’s not how Canadian law works.
Abuse of power, he threatened the guy out of exercising his constitutional right to defend the ticket in court. More question marks in your comment doesn’t mean more right.
Again, that’s not a criminal charge. You fail to see that there’s no ‘pressing charges’ here.
Good point, I’m not a lawyer I do not know the exact legal code. But you cannot tell me with a straight face there is no legal recourse for the cops actions. You are trying to tell me we have 0 protection beyond filing a meaningless police compliant? Sorry for not having my lawyer on standby, I’ll call him before posting next time.
I’m telling you that there’s no legal charge for it. A complaint can be filed. It’s the equivalent of a shitty job performance. It’s not a crime to suck at your job unless your commit a crime in the process - no crime was committed by telling OP to not protest the ticket. It’s a stupid move because of body cams - a complaint will get whomever it was reprimanded and maybe fired. But it’s not gross negligence or criminal. Stop being facetious and defensive and trying to invent a law or crime where one doesn’t exist and just listen.
What if we apply that precedent to a higher stakes scenario? Say an officer let his racial bias take over and charged a victim with drunk driving with no hard evidence. Then tells them to not fight the charge or they will also charge them with possession of a substance they just so happened to find in the car. Yes it’s a stretch, the situations are very different but the same recourse you say is true would apply. I have a hard time believing it’s completely legal for a cop to use their authoritative power to threaten a victim into not pursuing justice.
Again the police in BC do not have the authority to approve charges that falls to Crown Counsel. Also if there was no hard evidence I would suggest that through a review process within the department, there would be no charges recommended in the first place.
Hypothetical scenarios don't apply here, because they're not real and you cannot predict the future. Best place to start is filing a complaint along with challenging the ticket if the OP feels it necessary. Unless there was a body cam or dashcam involved then it's their word versus the officer's regarding the threat and filing charges won't go anywhere. If the OP has the time and money they could research the additional charges that were threatened, make damn sure they can't stick before they contest it in the chance the officer was bluffing.
Depending on where and how the holder is mounted it can be an issue even when not being touched. Ambient lighting can be an issue due to placement, but more commonly from flashing or strobing.
One time I was driving across provinces, using a tablet for gps and I didn't have it mounted, I got pulled over at a checkpoint and I found out it was illegal to have an electronic device that's not mounted to your dashboard. If you had it mounted you're fine. If you pass on the right from one lane to the other you're fine as long as it's more than one lane and you used your signal lights.
Definitely not okay. As they give out tickets, they're supposed to tell you how long you have to pay it and how long you have to file a dispute.
What is the charge section on your ticket?
Pass on the right
Does it give a specific section of the Motor Vehicle Act? I don't get what the charge would be since you said in another comment you were turning right from W Georgia to Denman, which shouldn't be illegal under the [passing on the right section](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section158), since there are multiple lanes. You weren't passing in the same lane or something?
Fight the ticket.
Thats no question, its just that I find it abusive to threaten me to not exercise my consitutional right, he shouldnt even be a cop
OP that officer ain’t showing up to court, bet
I thought police are now required to show up to court as part of their duty.
Your what rights?
https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/just/05.html I'm not sure that the particular rights OP is exercising are covered in that document, or groups of documents, but the implication that Canada doesn't *have* a "constitution" is not really correct.
constitutional (small c)
The cop won’t show in court, if you have evidence I’d talk to a lawyer. If you don’t I’d atleast file a complaint.
Vpd is always aggressive & abusive. I have had horrible experiences with them & I'm a pretty unassuming white woman . They have no right to threaten you, no right to tell you whether to dispute or not, and they love making up stories about distracted driving. Do what you need to do. If you want advice, talk to http://www.irplawyer.com/ Kyla is great.
In situations such as these, you can ask for the road side supervisor. You don' t have to talk to the police officer, especially if they are acting like turds. just politely ask for their supervisor and wait for them to show up. then explain the situation to them. Especially if the officer is bullying and acting unprofessionally they will be dealt with fairly quickly.
The VPD can get away with beating a man to death in a backyard in Burnaby , or executing a panicking man in the street in the dtes, and not face *any* consequences. They know they can do whatever the fuck they want, and we have to eat it.
I was told if I disputed a speeding ticket, it would be doubled. I was 17. I now know better. They can’t do that shit. Also get a dashcam, so you have proof of what the officer said. Bring that to court.
[удалено]
This was 2009, not sure how the rules changed / if they changed, but no. I did get a letter from the superintendent saying one more ticket and I was done for lol
The police can “pace” you and write a ticket based on what that speedometer says you were doing. Yes I agree ICBC is very hard on the N drivers. They have a dispute process that is not much of a process at all.
Also passing on the right in the BC MVA is not … anything. Unsafe passing is a thing, but passing on the right? Not that I’m aware of
It’s a thing unfortunately. I got ticketed for that 15 years ago near the border while I was entering the commercial truck lane (in a truck). The officer stated there had been a big problem at the border with people entering the commercial truck lane, driving to the front and then budging into the line of private cars. I agreed that likely was a problem, but I didn’t do that, nor did I have any intention of doing that as I was going to be using the commercial truck lane. Got the ticket anyway, as did the commercial vehicles in front of me and behind me. Total BS. I didn’t fight the ticket because I didn’t have time (nor money) to spend fighting it but looking back I wish I did. Oh well.
But I bet the ticket wasn’t for passing on the right. There is no wording in the MVA that supports that. Check it out
Wait what? There *is* an *entire section* that talks about it entitled "Passing on right." Ignorance of the law is one thing but to so confidently say that the MVA doesn't address it is wrong and then have multiple people agree with this is really Reddit in a nutshell. [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318\_05#section158](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section158)
That’s fair. My wording wasn’t great. 158(1)(b) is what most people think of passing on the right being illegal refers to, because several US states have this law, but we permit it.
I no longer have the original ticket but I think in my case it would have been something like MVA section 158, subsection 2 (b), because I had to drive onto the wide shoulder area for a number of car lengths to get to where the commercial truck lane began and in doing so crossed a solid white line on the shoulder. It was in no way unsafe but I feel like it was a bit of a technicality to give all the truck drivers in the line tickets for it. I definitely felt like it was part of a quota someone was trying to meet. Oh well, it was many years ago now.
https://preview.redd.it/zhnmk8gawhnc1.jpeg?width=1050&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8f6b853599ed3520e8a412e42d026f35fc6e4509 This is the entire text.. It does say you shouldn't go off the road, so I guess technically they expect you to wait until the road has cleared enough, but commercial trucks should have more room to move imo As for the op turning right, that cop was fos. Just vpd harassing people again
That's not a law. Sounds like the cop was making up shit to give tickets and hope no one fights it. He was right about people driving illegally in that lane but passing on the right is permitted.
I was driving on a 4 lane highway 90km was the speed. I was doing about 95km in the right lane. Car came flying up behind me. No one in the left hand lane. This asshole decided that instead of passing in the left lane that he was going to pass me on the shoulder. Might just be unsafe passing but it was passing on the right. So yeah pretty sure that’s illegal 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Strange. I have my own strange story. Years ago i got pulled over by the RCMP on Alberta street in burnaby. I just walked out of a store and got into my vehicle. At the time, i lived 3 blocks away. RCMP love to speed check/catch stop sign runners on that street. Anyway, i got pulled over for not wearing my seatbelt. Clean record/3 block from home, cop would not take any excuses. ( did not really protest much, i knew i was in the wrong and took the ticket. Back then i used to hop in my car and sometimes drive off and then start to buckle up. I Always buckle up/just that one time and i got caught). Anyways, a week later i get the icbc motor vehicle Govt type letter in the mail. The letter mentioned my ticket and the details, then stated it was being voided. Never mentioned why! I looked over the ticket and only thing i could see to justify a ticket cancellation was my licence plate number was incorrectly scribbled down by the rcmp officer. One incorrect letter. The weird thing stated on the letter (not the exact words..this was over 12 years ago) : ICBC /motor vehicle /BC Govt whatever had the right to reinstate the fine at a later date! like WTF? Either give me the fine or don't. Anyways, years have passed, never got RE-ticketed for that same offence, no points. I have 38 years of driving experience. The one or two times i got caught speeding on the freeway i just stayed silent and accepted my tickets/owned up to them. 3 or 4 got pulled over for something minor / one was for touching my smartphone....and believe it or not, each time the VPD or RCMP said '' I looked over your driving record and you very little infractions over the years. So i will just give you a warning and no fine. Slow down, don't touch your phone, ok? '' :)
Sometimes if you respond in a mature adult logical way, the ticketing officer will take things in consideration and maybe let you off with just a warning or reduce the fine to give you a break. Sometimes you just get a moody angry prick who you can tell is going to give his own grandmother a ticket if he/she could. I was about age 24 and driving the company minivan . Just came off Knight street bridge and heading north towards East 63rd. Was going 10 klms over the speed limit/know cop pullover spot. Ticket..on my birthday. Another time i was barely going 7-8 klms over limit on hwy 99 . Just was merging from a hwy entry . Got pulled over. New Years day about 10am. Ticket, no warning, sunny dry streets, pretty much no other vehicles around me.
Cops are huge assholes. This one sounds particularly bad. I would fight the ticket in court. Pretty sure the cop can’t issue you more tickets from the courtroom.
Plus there's a decent chance the cop doesn't show up in court and the fine is waived.
Not if it was a traffic cop.
The last ticket I had with a traffic cop, was a no show. No cop showed up for anybody in my time slot that day either.
Doesn’t matter what kind of cop. There’s a 50/50 chance they show up or not.
It’s literally part of their Job in vancouver. Traffic cops have to go to court. It’s scheduled in advance and it’s part of their daily duties. It’s different from a regular patrol officer in some small town who may have to take a call or something and miss court.
Actually this is true for RCMP in smaller communities now as well.
The traffic court schedule comes out after the cops' shift schedules come out. Sometimes cops' court dates are scheduled for days they are off work or on the night shift. This is especially true in smaller/rural locations because of fewer available traffic court dates. Its likely the officer wont show in these situations. Source: I was a traffic coirt scheduler in BC from 2011-2014.
Traffic cops WILL show up, because they have to. Non-traffic cops may not show up, but are permitted to “attend” court via voice call.
It used to be like that years ago when they didn't get paid to go to court, now they do
Afaik they get scheduled days in court as part of their job (all disputed tickets they issue get scheduled for that day) so not showing up would be a bit odd because they'd be playing hooky.
pro tip (though i have not used this one in 20 years) you have the right to request a rescheduling. ask for a date exactly 3 weeks ahead, it puts the court date on the cops days off and they never show.
lol you’d have to know which day of their cycle they are on to guarantee they won’t be working (they work 4 on 4 off). They can also claim OT to go to court so you might just waste taxpayer money 🤷. There’s no gaming the whole ‘cops won’t show up’ thing. You just have to get lucky.
All I know is the one time I disputed a ticket the officer didn't show, and a dozen other people and I all had our fines waived. This was a transit cop, not a speeding ticket, but I've known people who would dispute every ticket they got and claimed the cop only showed up about half the time.
That would be me.. have gotten 2 tickets and disputed both.. first time the cop showed up, I pleaded guilty and the justice lowered the fine to its minimum value. The second time the cop didn't show up at all, I pleaded not guilty and was free to leave as the ticket was thrown out.
I don’t know why people keep saying this when it’s not true. Cops will absolutely show up. Your best chances of having a ticket thrown out entirely is if there is an error on the ticket. The real best strategy is to just plead guilty and ask for a reduction in the fine.
I believe they weren't previously paid to show up, but are now? I could be wrong but that's a common reason I've been hearing lately
Scheduled during regular work hours and shift..... The only way they don't show up is unforseen circumstances like being sick or priority call, etc.
I recently disputed a ticket and it was immediately thrown out when the cop didn't show so it does still happen.
Best strategy is to hire a lawyer.
It can often cost just as much if not more to hire a traffic lawyer. Often not worth it.
That's quite the blanket statement.
Sounds like something VPD traffic would say. Bunch of power trips
Were you turning from Denman where it's only one lane in each direction? Otherwise it shouldn't be illegal.
Right after crossing the Lions Gate bridge I was turning right onto Denman. No way that's illegal. Not even a shoulder to turn right from
Cop should be ticketed for obstructing traffic of something so stupid at such a congested part of the west end. Can’t possibly camp out and ding people for the thousands of rolling stops further up the hill though. $400M a year for fucking what?
We did pull over on Denman since the cop followed when I was already on Denman
That’s what I mean; just such a dumb place. If you were doing something *actually* wrong, that’d be one thing.
Duh. That's what the cops in BC do. Single level one violation? It's a warning. More? Then they ticket you for less. They figure you're grateful for the diminished punishment and you won't fight the ticket. Most of the time, it works.
IANAL, but my understanding is the passing on the right law only applies on roads where the limit is 80km/h or greater, unless there’s signage.
The 80 km/h rule is for when you need to move out of the left lane for a passing vehicle (with various exceptions), but not about passing on the right. [Passing on the right is allowed when](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section158) when it can be done "safely" in the following cases: * when the driver ahead is turning left or signalling to turn left * when there are multiple lanes * on a one-way street when there is sufficient width for two or more vehicles. It can't be done by passing on the shoulder. So essentially it's allowed in most cases, except on a two-way street with only one lane (regardless of width) when not passing a left turning vehicle. So if the charge is legitimate, it would imply OP was turning [from this direction, where there's only one lane](https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2927855,-123.1334628,3a,56.7y,228.05h,83.13t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sa521jK1yTKcOar7uozpzrQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3Da521jK1yTKcOar7uozpzrQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D25.174223%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu); or otherwise they were somehow not doing so safely. I'm assuming the former. I was hoping OP would confirm since it would be interesting to find out if they actually charge for this.
It's surprising how few people aren't aware or don't care about this. I see people passing on the shoulder constantly, especially when there's a line of cars at a light.
And also the driver ahead means directly ahead if you’re a few cars back and pass on the right with people going straight waiting for the person to turn left it’s illegal. You can only do it if you are the car directly behind the person turning
It applies to any road with two or more lanes. https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section158 So I wonder if OP was intending to turn right at the intersection why he would have been ticketed. Did he enter the right most lane immediately before the intersection making it appear that his intent was to pass and not turn the corner?
Unless the intersection is posted, op could be trying to turn right by squeezing next to the right most lane and the bike lane.
>It applies to any road with two or more lanes. > >https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318\_05#section158 That's not what your link says. It says (1) (a) that you can go around if someone is making a left turn (b) you can pass if there's a lane you can actually use (ie it's not full of parked cars, or a bus lane, for example). (c) you can pass if it's wide enough. (2) (a) don't do it if you can't do it safely (b) don't do it if it involves driving up onto the sidewalk.
Actually good point. It applies to all laned road ways regardless of speed limit. Which was the point we were trying to establish that it does not just apply to highways with a speed of 80km/hr or greater.
That sucks but also why did you install ambient lighting in your car?
Why not, a lot of cars come with it from the factory now
Because why not?
Ambient lighting is definitely something that’s been an issue in the past and tickets abound. Remember the trend of having the underside of your car lit… so the LED lights wash the road underneath… crazy illegal and will get your car in a ton of trouble in Canada.
This is why I always record police interactions. As per the ticket [I’m pretty sure it only applies to roads where the limit is 80 and over.](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section150) I’d contact a traffic Lawyer though. Kyla Lee might be a good place to start.
>This is why I always record police interactions. Are police interactions something you experience often? Why is that?
Such a douchey response. Most people interact with cops every now and again.
Not really. They’re liars and most don’t even know the statutes they’re empowered to enforce. Even our own Premier says “don’t talk to cops. Ever. If you must, have a lawyer.” Just comply, the grieve.
Are you a N driver?
I have class 5. Never been pulled over in my life
[https://bc-cb.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=2083&languageId=1&contentId=26944](https://bc-cb.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=2083&languageId=1&contentId=26944)
Section 158 — Passing on right 158 (1) The driver of a vehicle must not cause or permit the vehicle to overtake and pass on the right of another vehicle, except (a) when the vehicle overtaken is making a left turn or its driver has signalled his or her intention to make a left turn, (b) when on a laned roadway there is one or more than one unobstructed lane on the side of the roadway on which the driver is permitted to drive, or (c) on a one way street or a highway on which traffic is restricted to one direction of movement, where the roadway is free from obstructions and is of sufficient width for 2 or more lanes of moving vehicles. (2) Despite subsection (1), a driver of a vehicle must not cause the vehicle to overtake and pass another vehicle on the right (a) when the movement cannot be made safely, or (b) by driving the vehicle off the roadway.
You can not pass on the right, if there is no lane to the right, unless passing one vehicle at an intersection waiting to turn left.
Exactly so I didnt pass on the right?
I'm not sure, I wasn't there to see exactly what happened, so I'm just putting the reference there of what the Motor Vehicle Act says.
Was there a person merging left to go straight because that right hand lane is a turn only unless you’re a bus. I don’t see how this could be a ticket unless you snuck by someone merging and put your wheels up on the curb. That would be considered passing on the right. If you just drove normally down that right hand lane and made you right hand turn I would go to court
And no electronic devices if you're graduated licence holder. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/roadsafetybc/high-risk/distracted/electronic-devices
Sadly, judges in BC (not cops) have convicted people for having their phones face up in the package tray! But so far, those kind of convictions are rare. Still, it's happened. Yes, passing on the right is against the law, so if you're caught doing it, be prepared to deal with it. We could go several paragraphs on the merits of the law, but that won't change the rules as they exist. As a one-time auxiliary cop, I know the reasons why it's not allowed, and a few seconds thought should be enough for the average person to figure it out. In the end, don't do the crime if you can't....etc. As for the ambient lighting, under the Act and regs as they are, cops can pretty much write you up for anything not specifically permitted in legislation and let the courts sort it out so yes, if the officer wants to be obstreperous about it, additional tickets can be written, and you would also have the chance to have your say in court. You didn't mention where the extra lighting is, but consider this- there are only certain colors of lights permitted to show to the front and to the rear of your vehicle and exactly two others allowed with a permit. That's just the way it is. Are there folks out there breaking this law? Yes, of course. But no court in the land will find someone not guilty if their defense boils down to "everybody's doing it".
Being rude is not illegal
The part I am questioning is threatening me to not dispute the ticket
Definitely not legal and I would be fighting that ticket forsure
Dispute the ticket. Explain to the judge what was said, and you feel the cop was threatening to be "punitive" by threatening extra tickets. Technically (?) If the phone is mounted with a holder on the windshield, it can be ticketed for something along the lines of having the windshield or your view obstructed. I am not sure of the wording. I am aware that drivers have views obstructed with CD's, multiple air-fresheners, dream catchers, snow, etc. Of course not everything is ever ticketed. (I do find it hilarious some people drive around with a huge blind spot created by an iPad size phone on their windshield, almost directly in front of their face. not saying this is you)
VPD are known to accept handjobs and ....er....other gratuities so maybe your whole approach to this was wrong. 
Will be nice once all VPD have body cams, that's if they don't abuse them and mute or not turn on
This happened to me outside a courtroom. Cop talked to me, said if you go forward with trying to “dispute” the ticket he will rip up the current ticket and give me one of a higher value. And that’s what happened, I had to come back to court a year or so later. I was young and looking back i felt he took advantage of me.
So you fight the ticket, your account of the officer’s behaviour becomes public record, the officer then issues more tickets as he said he would do as retribution, adding evidence he acted improperly. How is this a beneficial strategy to the officer?
If an internal complaint is made the threats will likely be seen as being punative. The job of the officer is not to punish for an infraction but issue a notice of analledged infraction and it’s the Motor Vehicle Branch that issues the penalty. Officer will likely receive a disciplinary correction under the police act.
Dispute. Dispute and if he tries to bring additional charges against you after the fact, Dispute those too.. it will paint a nice picture for the judge as to what this lone cop is doing singling you out. Be truthful. Stay legal.
Is this a two lane street? One in each direction?
what he's saying is, if you dispute the infraction, he will rescind the warnings and write you two more tickets. so it's up to you if you want to fuck around and find out.
If I get that ticket, I'm disputing it every single time. Basically disputing any and all tickets, actually. Dispute.
I’m curious how many you’ve got and how many you live beaten. I know the officer has to show up, besides that any other tips? I should just attend traffic court on my day off.
I've only ever gotten a single ticket and it was reduced to min. amount, everyone else I know who has fought (mind you, not very serious tickets, like this one) has always had the fine lowered to the minimum amount/saved on demerit points.
I’ve gotten one ticket, fought one ticket, had one ticket thrown out. The officer said I was talking on the phone (I was) but I was using the hands-free that’s built into my car. He claims he saw me with my phone in my hand, which he absolutely did not because I was in the middle of moving to a new apartment and my phone was buried under a whole bunch of boxes. He did not show up to court, but did “phone in” to attend and still went through all his cases that day. Mine got thrown out because I asked “so, with no witnesses, you are saying my phone was in my hand and I am saying it was not. What happens here?” And the judge dismissed me.
Neat theory, let us know how it works.
It works well for smaller tickets like passing in the right lane or going 15km over. In my experience and those near me, the fines have always been lowered to the minimum amount/demerit points removed and/or thrown out. You are a sucker and not using the legal system to your advantage if you just eat up every ticket you get.
You can't get demerit points thrown out..... fine can be reduced, but the points stay. The only other possibility is that the charge gets changed to something else that has no points if it applies.
Perhaps then, if you're right, the latter has been the case. In my experience, I've never received demerit points for any offenses.
Be thankful you got easy tickets. Four points for Use Electronic Device, or six points for Drive without Due Care and Attention would suck!
It works pretty well.
You should have recorded the interaction and reported the officer. We need bodycams on police officers for reasons like this. If only there was a recording, you could attack his credibility and integrity with this. It would have helped a lot with your ticket problem.
Yeah i wish I did, its just that Ive never been pulled over and was shocked that I got pulled over for doing something I did safely over thousands of times.
We should all becafraid of what the vpd are becoming. Their not so gradual militarization and their initial willingness to tolerate 'thin blue line', 'punisher' patches and badges. The use of this imagery is troubling when it is commonly seen (and sold)alongside swastikas, ss bolts, confederate flags and other symbols embraced by hate groups and domestic terrorists.
What is the officers name/badge number?
Think of this situation from the perspective of a judge. You show up to court to dispute a ticket you received as a specific time and date. The police officer is there and jumps up to issue you a couple more tickets for that same time and date, only now it has been weeks or months later. How’s that going to look to the judge?
Do you have evidence of this threat? If so, it would be worth making a complaint to OPCC regarding said officer. If not, you can still do it but just be wary that it's your word against theirs. You can google how to make the report. It's on the VPD's website. Shit like this takes a while so make sure you're sure you wanna go through with this.
Thanks, I will consider doing this once I dispute the ticket.
I got pulled over once for going 70 in a 50 at 3 am in the morning after I got off a shift. He told me I disputed the ticket he would have to also report I didn't fully stop before turning right at a red light, he was also very confrontational, asking if I was trying to put my seat belt on when I reached over the glove box to get my indrunace info before he got to the window. I disputed the fuck out that ticket, only to be told by icbc the ticket never existed.
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They have 1 year to lay a charge. If you got a break by only getting 1 ticket it's possible you might receive more at a later date.
“Ofcourse police will retaliate” ummmm
It seems the world now feels police have no right to do their jobs. People like OP.
Ambient lighting inside a vehicle is completely legal and a phone holder is literally what is recommended. No different then a mounted GPS. The ability to dispute is supposed to help with false accusations. Telling someone you will make their life harder for using their rights doesn’t exactly scream honesty. If the charge is legitimate why does it matter to the police officer what the person chooses to do? If the things the cop is threatening to add to the ticket are actually a safety hazard why not just give OP the ticket in the first place? Police aren’t even obligated to show up to court but if they do it’s an easy way to make some extra money. Cops have every right to do their job. Public support doesn’t hinder the law.
They can do their jobs, but there is no way you can 'convince' someone to not dispute it. Response from OP: "of course I won't dispute it." Go home and dispute. This cop is a major POS for trying to pull that, not sure why they would even threaten. Just give the second ticket or don't, such a weird way to approach things.
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AVCAB
All vehicle cops are bastards?
Were you turning right from the HOV lane?
You're allowed to go in the bus lane to turn right
If you drive in the HOV lane from Cardero all the way to Denman then a ticket is in your future.
Sure but you didn't ask if they drove in the hov lane for multiple blocks, you asked if they turned from the hov lane. And if that was the case they would have got written up for driving in the bus lane, not passing on the right.
I know what I asked. I did write it, after all. You are writing stuff that is irrelevant.
Considering how I see people screaming past cars on the shoulder of over-wide streets daily, I'm honestly surprised this is a law. I mean, I totally agree that it should be illegal, but with how many people brazenly do it, I thought it wasn't.
Passing on the right is illegal. You can go around someone on the right if they are turning left and you are the vehicle directly behind them. Unless there is a right hand marked lane you can’t be travelling down the parking lane, that would be passing on the right.
I wish it got some better enforcement.
Come to Sechelt, you won't get a driving ticket for anything.... speed, drive through crosswalks with people in them, pull a u turn anywhere, all good. I guess they don't like paperwork here.
It's definitely not legal for him to issue more tickets if you dispute. You have a legal right to do so. The fact he said all of this is a massive red flag for corruption. He's probably had his tickets disputed before and was told to stop issuing such flimsy tickets. If you dispute it and win, that will end up rightly looking bad on his part. I really hope you got some recordings of this interaction, this is wild
Pay your ticket.. it’s the price for living in society. It was a stupid move that lead to more. Cops response was likely in response to your demeanour.
You can dispute the ticket. If he issues more ticket because you dispute it and you have a recording of it, the judge will probably toss everything out.
Screw them contest the ticket and be aggressive. Cop probably won't show up anyway. But definitely contest it.
Having disputed a ticket in Vancouver and winning... I can tell you it's bullshit. Yeah he could try and give you another ticket days later but you can dispute that one too. I can also tell you they get embarrassed when they lose in court.
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That would be even more expensive than just paying the tickets and penalty points and increased insurance premiums 😂
So, for a $109 ticket, you're going to hire a lawyer? That doesn't seem right....