Move over. B.C. drivers now face fines if they drive in the left lane of B.C.’s high-speed multilane highways. New regulations intended to improve safety and traffic flow came into effect last week.
Drivers on multilane highways where the speed is more than 80 km/h must stay to the right unless they are passing another vehicle, allowing traffic to merge from the right, preparing to make a left turn or moving left to pass an official vehicle displaying a flashing light.
An exception is made for when traffic congestion slows travel speeds to 50 km/h or less. In that case, drivers are encouraged to use the leftmost lane to keep traffic flowing.
Tickets for not obeying the new rules are $167 and the driver will also receive three penalty points.
Police Beat
In local police news, Creston RCMP responded to 79 calls for service from June 8-14, Cpl. Gerry Sliworski said on Monday.
June 8
•A male was transported to the hospital from Wynndel after he took an overdose of prescription drugs.
•A theft from a vehicle was reported at the Kingsgate border crossing.
•Police did not locate a black Hummer with Alberta plates reported to be speeding on Goat River Road.
•A dispute between neighbours in Kitchener is under investigation.
•A blue Dodge Caravan from Alberta reported to be driving too slowly on Highway 3A from Crawford Bay was not located by police.
•Police are investigating a complaint from a Creston resident that someone has borrowed money in his name.
•A driver was charged with following too close after he rear-ended another vehicle on Highway 21 at Sixth Avenue.
•An intoxicated male who fell and cut himself on Highway 21 near the Goat River was arrested and held in cells until sober. He was released with a ticket for being drunk in public.
•The driver of a black Kia Sorrento that passed a stopped school bus on Highway 21 was issued a warning.
•Police are investigating a fire that destroyed a vehicle on the Arrow Creek Forest Service Road.
June 9
•A suicidal female was transported to hospital for treatment.
•A blue pickup truck that burned under suspicious circumstances near Yahk is the subject of a police investigation.
•Police received information about threats made in relation to the recent suspicious death of a male in Lower Kootenay.
•Minor damage resulted in a two-car collision on Ninth Avenue North at Cavell Street.
•Youths were reported to be jumping off the Goat River Bridge on Highway 21.
•Two occupants of a vehicle were transported to hospital for assessment after it lost control on a curve on Highway 3 at Canyon-Lister Road.
•A male on Highway 3 near Kootenay Pass had been assaulted but he would not co-operate with police questioning. He was taken to hospital for treatment and then released.
•Police could find no evidence of a prowler after they responded to a complaint from 20th Avenue.
June 10
•A report of rocks on Highway 3A near Gray Creek was passed on to the highways ministry.
•Police are investigating a complaint from a Hillside Street resident about the passing of a fraudulent cheque.
•Police are investigating after a Highway 3A resident found arrows and an archery target on his property.
•An unidentified driver failed to remain at the scene after hitting a vehicle on 16th Avenue South.
•Police have no suspects in a hit and run of a parked vehicle on Northwest Boulevard.
June 11
•A requested well-being check on 11th Avenue South revealed the occupant was fine.
•When police investigated a report of disturbing sounds in a Cook Street apartment, they determined the sounds were from a video game.
•A collision on Helen Street in which police found both drivers at fault did not result in injuries.
•Three group mailboxes were damaged on West Creston Road at Evans Road.
•Marijuana was seized from a male attempting to enter Canada through Kingsgate, and he was turned back to the U.S.
•A power line was damaged by a vehicle on Sixth Avenue North.
•A possibly impaired driver on Hilton Road was not located.
June 12
•Police are recommending criminal charges arising from an assault involving siblings on Centre Road.
•A Channel Road resident found a bullet hole in a wall but had no idea when it might have been made.
•Police received a complaint about a grey Ford that was speeding on Highway 3.
•Group mailboxes at Twin Bays on Highway 3A were damaged, apparently with culprits attempting to steal mail.
•No injuries were reported after a single vehicle accident on West Creston Road at Highway 3A.
June 13
•A vehicle was towed when it blocked the access of a delivery truck to Canada Post.
•People reported to be banging on windows on Centre Road were not located.
•More group mailboxes were damaged on West Creston Road.
•A well-being check on a Canyon-Lister Road resident revealed he was OK.
•A reported fraudulent use of a credit card at an Erickson business is under investigation.
•No theft has been noted after a break-in to a shed on Sinclair Road at Seventh Street in Lister.
•A youth was transported to hospital after an apparent suicide attempt.
•A wallet found on 18th Avenue South has been returned to the owner.
•A complaint about threats arising from a family dispute on Plascko Road in Wynndel is under investigation.
June 14
•An unwanted visitor at an Erickson Road residence was removed by police.
•Police are investigating a break-in to a Northwest Boulevard business.