Expired car insurance leads to pot bust

Photo: Google Maps

Falkland, BC

RCMP found more than they bargained for when a driver was questioned about a missing license decal on the weekend.

The North Okanagan RCMP officer noticed a car parked at the Petro Canada Gas Station without valid insurance. 

When the officer saw the car pull out on the highway and heading south to Vernon he pulled the driver over. 

The 45-year-old Falkland man said he knew he was uninsured, but needed to drive himself to the hospital and that no one could give him a lift.

While chatting with the driver the officer noticed a distinct smell of Marijuana, to which the driver said he had a Medical Marijuana License and was allowed to possess marijuana.

Unfortunately for the driver the medical marijuana license, like the car insurance, was also expired.

RCMP Spokesman Gord Molendyk says the driver showed signs of impairment and indicated he had smoked a joint several hours prior. 

The man could have been charged with possession, but instead 66.5 grams of marijuana were seized and the man was issued a 24 hour prohibition, and a violation ticket for no insurance. 

Molendyk says the vehicle was then towed. He did not know if the man ever did make it to the hospital.