Racing 'L' driver clocked at 199 km/h in North Vancouver, said 'other driver was going faster'
A 19-year-old driver with a learner's licence was clocked going 199 km/h while racing through North Vancouver, B.C., over the weekend, according to Mounties.
Officers interrupted the race Friday night on the Upper Levels Highway, pulling over a car with an "L" driver behind the wheel.
According to the detachment, the young man's response to being stopped was: "The other driver was going faster."
In addition to speeding, authorities said the 19-year-old lacked a supervisor and had too many passengers in his car.
Under ICBC's graduated licensing program, learning drivers must be accompanied in the front passenger seat by someone who is at least 25 years old and holds a full licence. They are allowed just one additional passenger in the vehicle.
Officers issued nearly $1,500 in tickets to the "L" driver for excessive speed, driving without due care and attention, and driving contrary to restrictions, then impounded his vehicle for seven days .
"Speed remains as the number one cause of death on our roadways," Const. Mansoor Sahak of the North Vancouver RCMP said in a news release. "When it comes to speeding and dangerous driving, every death is a preventable death. We are committed more than ever to stopping irresponsible drivers through enforcement and education."
Officers said they were unable to nab the second driver involved in the race.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

BREAKING Kenneth Law charged with 14 counts of murder in Ontario sodium nitrite deaths
An Ontario man already facing charges of aiding and abetting suicides through kits he sold online now faces 14 new second-degree murder charges, according to documents obtained by CTV News.
Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell, of 'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,' dead at 29
Reality personality Anna Cardwell, who was featured on the TLC program “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” has died, according to social media posts made by her family. She was 29.
2 young boys dead, mother in critical condition after incident in Scarborough
Toronto police say a homicide investigation is underway after an incident at a Scarborough apartment building Sunday night left two young boys dead and their mother in critical condition.
Most Albertans don't want the province to pull out of CPP, survey finds
One month after finance ministers met to discuss the Alberta government's intent to pull out of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) public opinion polling by the Angus Reid Institute suggests there's little desire among Albertans or the rest of Canada to see Alberta leave the plan.
Three dead after shed fire outside northwest Calgary hardware store
Three people were found dead in the Crowfoot Crossing area of northwest Calgary on Monday after a fire.
'I know I messed up': House Speaker Fergus challenged by MPs probing video controversy
A repentant Greg Fergus testified Monday before his peers about what he says was his unintentional participation in a partisan provincial Liberal party event in early December, telling MPs that as the House of Commons Speaker, he knows he 'messed up.'
Missing woman from First Nation in Saskatchewan found safe, police say
A 39-year-old woman who was reported missing from Kahkewistahaw First Nation in Saskatchewan has been found safe, police say.
Grocer profits set to exceed record in 2023, expert says, ahead of committee meeting
Profits in the Canadian grocery sector will likely exceed $6 billion in 2023, setting a new record as they rise eight per cent from last year, according to the Centre for Future Work. New research by the progressive research institute found that food retailers are now earning more than twice as much profit as they did pre-pandemic.
Poland's parliament elects centrist party leader Donald Tusk as prime minister
Poland's parliament elected centrist party leader Donald Tusk as prime minister on Monday, paving the way for a new pro-EU government after eight years of stormy national conservative rule.