VANCOUVER 鈥� As Peter Norman rode to a stop at an RCMP impaired driving road check north of Salmon Arm one evening in June, the last thing on his mind were the few beers he had earlier that day.
But when police suspected the 64-year-old pensioner might be over the limit, they breathalyzed him, threw him in the back of a patrol car, then took his car and his licence 鈥� all despite the fact he wasn鈥檛 the one behind the wheel.
Norman鈥檚 tale may come as a surprise warning to British Columbians that it鈥檚 not always OK to drink and ride. At least, not when the driver has a learner鈥檚 permit.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e treating me like I was the impaired driver,鈥� Norman said, before recalling the day his trouble began.
Norman had spent the day gardening with friends and had a few beers. He was quick to point out that this wasn鈥檛 an everyday occurrence, adding that he hadn鈥檛 been in a bar 鈥渟ince beer cost 10 cents.鈥�
Toward the end of the day, Norman鈥檚 grandson came by the house and asked if he could drive his grandfather鈥檚 car a few kilometres to the local store to pick up groceries. His grandson had a learner鈥檚 licence, which according to the ICBC website, means he must have a qualified supervisor sitting beside him who is 25 or older, and in possession of a valid driver鈥檚 licence.
Norman gave his keys to his grandson, who drove the pair to the store. On the way back, they came across a road check.
鈥淭hey pulled me out of the car and gave me a breathalyzer,鈥� said Norman. 鈥淚 was put in the back seat of the police car. They took my licence away right there ... then the tow truck showed up.鈥�
The consequences were stiff. Norman had to pay a $500 administration fee and his car was impounded for a month, which cost him $800 in towing and storage costs. His licence was suspended for 90 days, and he is required to participate in the responsible driver program, a course that will cost him another $1,000.
鈥淭here鈥檚 something wrong with this picture,鈥� Norman said. 鈥淚鈥檝e never had an accident in over 40 years. ... If I was drinking and driving, sure 鈥� fair enough. But I wasn鈥檛.鈥�
Norman lodged a complaint with the RCMP and another with the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles. Eventually he received a letter in reply from the superintendent鈥檚 office.
鈥淎lthough you state that you were not the driver at the time of this incident, this is not an issue for me to consider,鈥� read the letter.
鈥淚n conducting this review I must consider the purpose of the remedial programs, which is to teach drivers to separate drinking from driving and to protect public safety.鈥�
The arresting officer鈥檚 police report stated that Norman claimed on the scene he did not know about the rule.
He might be excused for that. Neither ICBC鈥檚 online guide for new drivers, nor its frequently asked questions section, mention that supervisors must be under the legal limit.
Neither ICBC nor the superintendent鈥檚 office could point to a publicly posted and obvious location where that expectation is communicated.
