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Kelowna  

Bad driver never learns

In the 'you never learn' file of the day, a 56-year-old Kelowna man, who minutes earlier had pled guilty to driving while prohibited, was caught behind the wheel after leaving the courthouse.

RCMP Cst. Kris Clark says the man is now facing a further potential prohibited driving charge after his car was impounded and he was caught red handed.

“He was sentenced to a one year driving prohibition by the court judge and was then seen by the RCMP traffic unit leaving the courthouse and getting in his vehicle to drive away,” said Clark.

The RCMP officer investigating the man had noticed his vehicle in the courthouse parking lot and alerted the traffic unit that the man may get back behind the wheel after his court appearance.

“We didn't know if someone had driven him there but his vehicle had been spotted so it was certainly a possibility that he may be driving away,” said Clark.

As the man left the building the RCMP Integrated Road Safety Unit watched as he got into his Ford pickup and proceeded to drive away despite his sentencing just minutes before.

“He was of course pulled over within a block and is facing another charge of driving while prohibited,” explained Clark.

The man's vehicle was impounded and he was fined $598 for No Insurance under the Motor Vehicle Act.

“In essence he is going to have to get insurance to get it out of the tow yard because it is obviously uninsured and it is kind of difficult to get insurance when you are prohibited so I don't know how that is going to play out,” said Clark.

He was released on an Appearance Notice for Court on May 29, 2014

Clark wants to remind drivers that RCMP teams are working together to target:

  • Aggressive driving behaviours (including distracted driving which is quickly becoming one
  • of the main factors in injury crashes);
  • Impaired driving;
  • Seatbelt wear compliance; and
  • Commercial vehicle safety.

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