Weekly media release - Trail and Greater District RCMP - 2024-03-12

Trail and Greater District

2024-03-12 08:42 PDT

Man stopped for driving electric scooter on public road shocked to learn the law

File # 2024-899

On Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 11:07 a.m. a frontline Trail and Greater District RCMP officer was on a routine patrol in a marked vehicle when he spotted a 50-year-old Trail man allegedly riding an electric scooter between 40 to 50 km/h in the 1500 block of Second Avenue, in Trail, BC. The officer detained the man and scooter roadside.

The officer asked the man for a valid BC driver’s licence and proof of insurance. The man allegedly declined to identify himself, produce his licence and insurance, and stated that his electric scooter was a bicycle. The officer informed the man that his scooter did not contain pedals and was capable of travel over 32 km/h thus qualified as a motor vehicle under the law. The man allegedly became upset, rude and uncooperative with the officer as he attempted to leave the scene with the scooter. The officer prevented the man from leaving, and was able to convict the man to provide his information. The man did continue his protest when he tried to rip up the violation ticket issued to him. A second officer attended the scene and helped the first officer manage the incident.

The officer issued the 50-year-old Trail man a Notice of Driving Prohibition under Section 95 of the BC Motor Vehicle Act and had his scooter impounded. The man was also issued $679 in fines for driving without insurance contrary to Section 24(3) BC MVA and for not having a valid driver’s licence contrary to Section 33(1) BC MVA.

Operating an electric scooter, such as in this incident, requires a valid driver’s licence and insurance. Anyone driving a lower-powered electric vehicle must know the law, and how it applied to the vehicle that they operated it on a public road. Ignorance of the law is not a defense. Just a heads up, the new ticket paper is a lot tougher to tear up that the old ones. You may want to carry scissors if you plan to do this in the future, says Sgt. Wicentowich

ICBC website on specialty low powered vehicles information. 

Officer on routine patrol arrests man with outstanding warrants

File # 2024-910

On Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 1:35 a.m. a frontline Trail and Greater District RCMP officer was on a routine patrol in a marked vehicle when he spotted a 27-year-old Trail man with outstanding warrants for his arrest walking on the Victoria Street Bridge, in downtown Trail, BC. The officer intercepted the man and arrested him. During a search incidental to arrested, the officer allegedly seized a prohibited knife.

The 27-year-old Trail man remains in police custody at this time.

Chris found out he is not very cool under pressure when he sees the police

File # 2024-911

On Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 5:30 a.m. a frontline Trail and Greater District RCMP officer was on a routine patrol in a marked vehicle when he observed a white Chevrolet truck come to a dead stop in the middle of an intersection of Victoria Street and Pine Avenue, in downtown Trail, BC. The driver stared directly at the officer, who was stopped at a red traffic light at the intersection, before slowly proceeding northbound on Victoria Street.

The officer queried the truck’s licence plate in the police data base and learnt that it was stolen from Nelson, BC. The officer attempted a roadside detention; however, the driver and truck fled. The officer did not pursue the driver and truck. Before fleeing, a passenger exited the vehicle and attempted to leave the scene on a skateboard. The officer intercepted the man who provided a description of the driver and an itinerary of their activities that day.

The officer later located the stolen truck abandoned in the 1800 block of Wilmes Lane. The truck was seized and examined by the RCMP Forensic Identification Section.

The driver is believed to be named of Chris, 46/47-years-old, balding, 6’3 to 64 tall, had big ears and hands, and from Nelson. If you have any information about this crime, or know the identity of Chris, please contact the Trail Detachment at 250-364-2566 to speak to an investigator.

Chris seems like he has a hard time remaining inconspicuous in public. If anyone knows where Chris is, please contact the Trail Detachment and report his whereabouts, says Sgt. Wicentowich

Released by

Cpl. James Grandy

Email: james.grandy@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

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