Tailgating, trying to get to the airport and celebrating a birthday.
Those were the reasons three drivers tried to use to explain why they were excessively speeding on the Sea to Sky Highway last month.
However, one BC Highway Patrol (BCHP) officer didn’t buy it and handed out various tickets and impounds on Dec. 30.
The first incident involved a Volkswagen and a Subaru who were spotted going much faster than other traffic on Hwy 999 near Porteau Cove.
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According to the BCHP, the Subaru driver claimed he sped up because the other vehicle was tailgating him. He was recorded hitting 149 km/h in an 80 zone.
A tourist driving a rental Volkswagen said he “wanted to get ahead” at the end of two merge lanes because he was on his way to the airport.
That driver reportedly hit 154 km/h in the same 80 zone.
“Merge lanes are not the time to get competitive,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin.
“At best your dangerous driving will gain you a few seconds. At worst you’ll crash horribly or lose hours of your time getting your vehicle impounded by police. If you want to save time, leave earlier and drive the speed limit.”
Later that day, a yellow Porsche was stopped in the same area doing 88 km/h over the speed limit.
According to the BCHP, the female driver asked police to be “considerate” because she was celebrating her birthday.
All three drivers were ticketed $483 for excessive speeding and had their vehicles impounded for seven days.
The BC drivers will face at least three years of high-risk driver premiums and escalating insurance costs totalling about $2,500 while the driver of the rental car will likely face additional premiums or penalties from the rental company.
These three traffic stops came just five days after BCHP officers stopped 14 speeders on Christmas Day.
