Gord Molendyk thought the RCMP member was pulling his leg when he told them eight vehicles were pulled over on Saturday for not having valid insurance.
It was no joke.
“One member had four before noon,” said Molendyk, RCMP spokesperson for the Vernon-North Okanagan detachment.
Members of the RCMP’s reservists program, along with officers from North Okanagan Traffic Services and the Integrated Road Safety Unit, were conducting traffic enforcement throughout Greater Vernon and south along Highway 97 when they pulled over the offenders.
Seven vehicles from the Okanagan and one from Alberta were ticketed for not having valid insurance. Each now faces a fine of $598.
There are some instances where a motorist may have received a new decal prior to the insurance expiring and forgot to put it on the plate, or there are instances when stickers get stolen.
In each case Saturday, however, the vehicles were checked with the motor vehicle branch to determine if the car had no valid insurance. Police officers will not give warnings if they pull over a vehicle that doesn’t have proper insurance.
“What authority does a police officer have to say you can drive with no insurance?” said Molendyk.
“What if they let the person go and they get into an accident a mile down the road? It’s a liability issue and it (warning) won’t happen.”
