Jail time and heavy fines proposed for truck drivers hitting B.C. overpasses
The B.C. government is proposing jail time and six-figure fines if commercial drivers are responsible for striking provincial infrastructure.
On Tuesday morning, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure announced proposed changes to the Commercial Transport Act that would enable the courts to impose fines reaching $100,000, as well as imprisonment up to 18 months upon conviction for violations.
"With these new penalties, we are taking the strongest action possible to keep our roads safe and to keep people, goods and services moving," said Rob Fleming, the minister of transportation and infrastructure, in a statement announcing the changes.
"This also sends a message to commercial truck drivers that they are responsible for the safe transportation of goods and services on our roads, and a lax attitude toward safety will not be tolerated."
"Nobody sets out to hit an overpass," said Dave Earle, president of the B.C. Trucking Association.
"What this does is send the message to say you need to be more diligent, you need to pay attention to what you’re doing."
It’s not just drivers that could face hefty fines or jail – companies could also be liable.
“It really depends on the facts that are uncovered around driver responsibility and/or a poor safety culture that is the responsibility of the company,” said Fleming.
But some industry members argue stiffer penalties aren’t the answer, and that the problem lies with too many inexperienced drivers, dispatchers and companies in B.C.
“I don’t think jail time and/or fines of that magnitude is going to change anything,” said Tom Johnson, manager at Kimberly Transport, who said his company has not been involved in any overpass strikes.
“I think what’s happened is there’s simply accidents and I think the government can do a lot more in terms of signage and just education in general,” he said.
Fleming said there will be training materials provided to give commercial drivers guidance.
According to the ministry, highway infrastructure laws have gone unchanged since 1970s, while infrastructure crashes have caused millions of dollars in provincial highway repairs, as well as lengthy highway closures and supply chain disruptions.
Since 2021, the province has reported 35 crashes caused by over-height commercial vehicles.
The additional measures come just weeks after the province announced the license suspension of Chohan Freight Forwarders, which had multiple incidents over the last two years.
A company spokesperson told CTV News by email that “Chohan Freight Forwarders Ltd. has challenged the cancellation of its safety certificate using the process set out in the Motor Vehicle Act.”
Nitasha Chohan, Chohan’s director of safety and compliance, also wrote that with respect to the new penalties, “we support any steps the government can take to hold commercial drivers accountable when these accidents occur, rather than punishing an entire fleet or carrier."
"In our view, the current enforcement against individual drivers has not been sufficient in reducing the risk to public safety," Chohan added.
In early December, the province outlined plans to deter costly and dangerous crashes, including a fine increase to $575 for over-height vehicles. The previous penalty was $115, making B.C.'s new fine the highest of its kind in Canada, according to officials.
The NDP government is also looking at making dash cameras mandatory for commercial vehicles.
“We know that no other jurisdiction in North America has that just yet so we haven’t found any examples of implementation,” Fleming said.
The province says the new proposed maximum penalty for commercial transport violations would also be above those of other Canadian provinces and territories, and is similar to the maximum penalties applied to rail and dangerous-goods safety.
"The BC Trucking Association welcomes the legislative change by the province to hold carriers accountable," said Earle.
"Imposing stricter penalties for carriers supports road safety and helps protect infrastructure, and ultimately enhances safety for everyone on our roads."
Effective June 1, B.C. will require in-cab warning devices to alert dump-style vehicle operators when the dump box is raised, while also mandating speed-limiter devices preventing heavy commercial vehicles from travelling more than 105 km/h on B.C. highways.
In the statement released Tuesday morning, the province says it has raised the trucking issues with all levels of government is working to address loopholes where carriers with poor safety records can no longer operate in neighbouring jurisdictions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Shameful': Monument honouring fallen soldiers included names of living veterans
Veterans are asking for answers after discovering that two sculptures in Ontario honouring fallen soldiers include the names of many people who are very much alive.
'If it ain't broke don't fix it': U.S. ambassador warns Canada against cutting Mexico out of trilateral trade deal
Cutting Mexico out of the current North American free trade deal 'may not be the best path to take,' says U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen.
Canada's air force took video of object shot down over Yukon, updated image released
The Canadian military has released more details and an updated image of the unidentified object shot down over Canada's Yukon territory in February 2023.
Cookie inflation: How much more is your holiday baking costing you this year?
Estimate how much more your Christmas cookies will cost to bake this year compared to the past five years using Statistics Canada's monthly average retail price data.
Smash and grab: Canada sees a spike in jewelry store robberies
Many cities across Canada are seeing a spike in jewelry store robberies in recent months.
Invasive species could be hiding in your Christmas decor. Here's how to stop the spread
Make sure to look through your holiday decorations, as Christmas trees, wreaths, and other natural decor can have invasive insects, eggs, and plants that pose a threat to local ecosystems and the economy.
This watch was carved from a meteorite that hit Earth a million years ago
A new watch from design duo Toledano & Chan has been carved from a meteorite that slammed into Earth around one million years ago.
Police find bag carried by gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, say he likely fled NYC on bus
Investigators found a backpack in Central Park that was carried by the shooter, police said Friday, following a massive sweep to find it in a vast area with lakes and ponds, meadows, playgrounds and a densely wooded section called 'The Ramble.'
A police photographer recounts the harrowing day of the Polytechnique massacre
Montreal crime scene photographer Harold Rosenberg witnessed a lot of horror over his 30 years on the job, though nothing of the magnitude of what he captured with his lens at the Polytechnique on Dec. 6, 1989. He described the day of the Montreal massacre to CTV Quebec Bureau Chief Genevieve Beauchemin.