Dear Editor:
We’re now in February, 2015, yet I see so many vehicles driving around displaying decals for various months of 2014. Just over two weeks ago I saw a truck displaying a decal for October 2013.
When will the police and/or bylaw officers issue tickets for this offence?
Are these vehicles even insured to be on the road because I for one certainly give them a wide berth if I see them as I do not wish to be involved in any accident or mishap, let alone be involved where the other driver may not have insurance.
Anne Reid
West Vancouver
Editor’s note: District of West Vancouver spokesman Jeff McDonald stated in an email that bylaw officers do look for valid insurance decals, and wrote tickets for failure to display a valid insurance decal 535 times in 2014. Bylaw officers also immediately call into ICBC to make sure that the vehicle has insurance, and in almost all cases they do; the owner has simply failed to put the decal on.
“The $45 ticket we issue acts as a reminder to the owner to put the decal on. If the vehicle does not have insurance, it is towed immediately. This happens rarely,” McDonald said.
West Vancouver Police Department spokesman Const. Jeff Palmer responded by saying “uninsured vehicles are taken very seriously by WVPD officers. In addition to bylaw offences, those found operating a motor vehicle without valid insurance are subject to a $598 fine under the Motor Vehicle Act.
“Officers keep an eye for expired plates on an ongoing basis along with all other defined offences under the Motor Vehicle Act,” said Palmer, noting that West Van police officers issued 78 no-insurance tickets in 2014. He added, “Anyone who sees a vehicle they believe is uninsured can call police in a safe and lawful manner to report the offence for a patrol response.”
