North Vancouver RCMP warns of roadblock to stop snowy vehicles

Mounties in North Vancouver say a highway roadblock Tuesday resulted in stopping 45 drivers who had not properly cleared snow off their vehicles.

The North Vancouver RCMP says it set up the stop on the westbound Mountain Highway offramp for approximately an hour, targeting vehicles covered in snow.

Const. Mansoor Sahak says most of the 45 drivers were given warnings.

“This was more of an educational event than enforcement, and we were basically giving them an opportunity to either clear off the vehicle or receive a ticket,” he explained.

Meanwhile in Burnaby, the RCMP says a driver was fined $109 for driving well below the speed limit with snow covering their windshield.

Mounties say the driver claimed they were on their way to by a snow-clearing brush.

Sahak says snow in the Lower Mainland always makes for dangerous road conditions, and leaving snow on vehicles can have “deadly consequences” for the driver and others on the road.

“Regardless of what kind of vehicle you have, it is your responsibility as a driver to make sure that you don’t have any debris on the hood, on the top of your vehicle, there are drive through stations specifically for trucks that they can go through and they will clear out their vehicle. So there’s no excuse for anybody to be driving around with snow on the hood or the on the windshield or on the roof of the vehicle,” said Sahak.

Mounties also recommend equipping your vehicle with winter tires before hitting the road.

If snowy conditions continue, Sahak warns, the North Vancouver RCMP may enforce the law more strictly.

“Next time a not may not be a warning, it might be a ticket.”