The driver of a Mercedes Coupe will be without wheels this week as their vehicle was impounded after they were caught travelling nearly 100 km/h over the speed limit.
At around 2 a.m. on March 13, a Saanich police officer with the Traffic Safety Unit was conducting enforcement on the Pat Bay Highway with a speed laser when a driver going 178 km/h in the 80-zone raced past.
The driver was stopped at the McKenzie Avenue off-ramp, according to public information officer Const. Markus Anastasiades, and when confronted about their speed, asked for a break because 178 km/h wasn’t considered fast when they were younger.
READ ALSO: Corvette impounded in Saanich after driver caught going 50 km/h over limit
This “caught the officer off-guard” because driving 98 km/h over the speed limit has always been considered fast and the Pat Bay Highway speed limit hasn’t been changed, Anastasiades said.
The driver was issued a $483 ticket for excessive speeding and a seven-day vehicle impound, though they told police they planned on disputing the ticket.
Earlier this week, our officers clocked a driver travelling 178 kph on the Patricia Bay Hwy (#17) near McKenzie Ave where the limit is 80.
— Saanich Police Traffic Safety Unit (@SPD_Traffic) March 15, 2021
The driver asked the officer for a 'break' and said that it 'wasn't fast when they were a kid'. They plan on disputing the $483 ticket. pic.twitter.com/p2jrNsUdFN
There’s no excuse to go that fast, no matter what time of day it is or what the traffic conditions are like, Anastasiades noted, adding Saanich roads are not designed for these speeds and driving too fast puts everyone at risk.
So far in 2021, Saanich police have stopped 11 excessive speeders in the municipality. Per the Motor Vehicle Act, drivers caught going more than 40 km/h over the posted speed limit are considered to be excessively speeding – an offence that can come with a ticket of up to $483, three penalty points and a week-long vehicle impound.
@devonscarlett
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