A B.C. rider loses his motorcycle and licence after speeding, stunting and missing a police officer during a dangerous highway wheelie.
Rider’s Quick Stunt Leads to Major Consequences on Sea to Sky Highway
A motorcycle ride that lasted only a few seconds has turned into a costly lesson for a 20-year-old Richmond rider.
The motorcyclist was caught speeding, performing a wheelie and riding without proper attention while a BC Highway Patrol officer was following close behind. As a result, the rider lost both his motorcycle and his licence.
The incident happened on July 18 along Highway 99 near Furry Creek, north of Vancouver, where officers were conducting traffic enforcement on the busy Sea to Sky route.
Police Clock Motorcycle at 146 km/h in an 80 Zone
The trouble began when a police laser detected a blue Suzuki motorcycle travelling at 146 km/h in an area with an 80 km/h speed limit.
A BC Highway Patrol officer on a police motorcycle moved closer to record the bike’s temporary licence plate and prepare for a safe traffic stop.
However, the rider did not notice the officer behind him.
The Suzuki had no mirrors, which meant the rider had no way to see the approaching police motorcycle. Instead of slowing down, the rider performed a wheelie and began weaving through traffic.
Rider Cooperates After Realizing Police Were Behind Him
Once the motorcyclist noticed he was being stopped, he immediately cooperated with officers.
BC Highway Patrol Sgt. Michael McLaughlin explained that the rider was not attempting to escape. Instead, he simply failed to realize he was being monitored.
However, by that point, the rider had already committed several serious offences that resulted in the loss of his motorcycle.
Multiple Penalties Issued After Dangerous Riding
The Richmond rider held a valid Class 8 motorcycle learner licence and had only recently completed a previous driving prohibition.
Following the incident, he received several penalties, including:
- A ticket for excessive speeding of more than 60 km/h over the limit
- A ticket for careless driving due to the stunt riding
- A seven-day vehicle impound, with all towing and storage costs paid by the rider
- Higher-risk insurance costs expected to exceed $2,800 over time
In addition, BC Highway Patrol submitted a high-risk driving report to the BC Superintendent of Motor Vehicles. The report resulted in another six-month driving prohibition.
Police Warn Drivers to Take Highway Safety Seriously
According to Sgt. McLaughlin, dangerous driving remains a major concern on the Sea to Sky Highway.
He warned that serious crashes can quickly close the highway and put many lives at risk. Therefore, drivers are being reminded to follow speed limits, ride responsibly and avoid risky behaviour.
For this rider, a short moment of showing off turned into months without a licence, a lost motorcycle and thousands of dollars in extra costs.
