Vancouver limo driver found without licence, another accused of driving while on drugs
Posted May 30, 2014 3:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – As students prepare celebrate grad, police are stepping up checks of party buses and limos after a pair of disturbing incidents last weekend.
Constable Brian Montague says the department handed out 23 tickets after 55 stops involving party buses and limos.
“They do have a duty to take care of their passengers,” Montague said of drivers. “These are, nowadays, there are passengers that are just graduating from high school. They’re young people and we want to make sure they celebrate responsibly, but we also want to make sure they get to where they’re going safely.”
In the two most surprising cases, one driver was behind the wheel after smoking pot and another was caught without a licence.
“You would think that a driver of a limousine would have a valid driver’s licence,” Montague said. “It is concerning to see that some of these drivers — there’s lots of good drivers out there — but there are some that do concern us.”
This follows increased scrutiny of party buses, with Transportation Minister Todd Stone ordering companies to include notices on their website which state drinking booze in those vehicles is illegal.
Montague recommends checking with the Better Business Bureau before booking a limo or party bus to ensure the operator has a good reputation.
