If you thought the Vancouver area’s auto theft problem is concentrated downtown, you’re off the mark. Despite heightened public awareness around car safety, the city of Surrey remains the Lower Mainland’s biggest hotspot for auto theft. Statistics from Surrey’s RCMP detachment show nearly 3,000 cars were stolen in that area last year. That’s almost double [...]
When the NDP government promised ride-hailing services in their 2017 election, they planned to have them available by Christmas of that year. Before they lost power, they managed to have the proposed legislation in place, but Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are saying that the ride-hailing companies, such as Uber and Lyft, should already be [...]
With marijuana legalization to officially come into effect on October 17th, BC is making the preparations necessary. As a Canadian citizen, it’s important to understand the legal consequences you could face if you do not adhere to the laws. Marijuana laws will vary from province to province, making it crucial to stay informed. The differences [...]
As of June 15th, the nonprofit organization Good Night Out has launched a text-based reporting tool called “Creep Off” to accumulate data about harassing behaviours in Vancouver. It’s a tool to be used in non-emergency situations where individuals text a local number, briefly answer questions about the harassment they are subjected to or witness, and [...]
People have become so incredibly dependent upon their phones that they have become appendages. The cell phone is almost always on or near our person: in our hands, in our pockets, or in our bags. Cell phones have replaced other items, including the alarm clock, the calendar, and even the computer. This dependency on the [...]
When you need to get somewhere quickly and there is no other driving or transportation option, taking a taxi is your go-to mode of transport. In the last few years, however, ridesharing has gained popularity. Although the concept of carpooling has been around for decades, ridesharing is directly linked to customers using a smartphone app [...]
This past March, British Columbians were asked by the provincial government to provide feedback on whether or not bad drivers should pay more for their Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) premiums. This way, good drivers would have the benefit of paying less for their insurance. The results have been tallied with 82% in favour [...]
With the Cannabis Act set to pass in the summer of 2018, there are implications for Canadians looking to cross the U.S. border. With the new legislation, Canadian adults will be able to legally purchase marijuana for both medical and recreational use. Although marijuana is legal in 10 U.S. states, cultivation, distribution, and possession is [...]
This past March, Jorge Alim Vega Ramirez was sentenced to two years less a day in jail for sexually assaulting one of his female tenants, an ESL student from Japan, in 2013. The victim’s identity has not been revealed due to a publication ban. This case reflects the #metoo movement that has been gaining momentum [...]
Mandatory minimums were created to provide an automatic punishment for certain crimes, including drug trafficking, child exploitation, and sex crimes. But crimes are not committed in rigid situations. A court has many, sometimes conflicting, aspects to consider for a case in which the mandatory minimum is too severe a punishment. Such is the case of [...]
