B.C. Working on Implementing Ride-Hailing Services

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 operating in the province to give citizens more transportation options. Temple University researches have found that with Uber’s presence in a city, the number of individuals killed in alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents has decreased between 3.6 to 5.6 percent.

What the Current BC Government Is Doing

The B.C. government has promised to offer ride-hailing services by the fall of 2019 while they are currently reforming the taxi industry to modernize it and add more cars. They plan on approving 500 new taxi licences, which will be divided between Metro Vancouver and surrounding areas.

The B.C. government has mentioned various issues that have been the reason for a slow or delayed implementation of the services, such as:

• passenger safety concerns
• taxi industry protection measures
• insurance for ride-hailing drivers
• options for accessible rides

B.C.’s Frustrations

MADD has been pressuring the government to proceed with the implementation of ride-hailing and plans to continue to do so. Their main hindrance is that the solution for solving the impaired driving problem is known to all, and yet, they and the rest of the province are still waiting for the solution to be available.

The members of MADD are not alone. Metro Vancouver mayors share their discontentment and have others of their own; they find it hypocritical of the B.C. government to warn citizens not to drive impaired and act responsibly while not providing many alternatives. Metro Vancouver mayors are aware that citizens end up in isolated areas at late hours that do not have any public transportation options, or citizens are forced to wait long periods of time, such as during rush hour, for a taxi. This is why some individuals get behind the wheel—they feel they don’t have any other option.

DUI Offences

When it comes to impaired driving, British Columbians face many consequences, including road-side prohibitions of varying times.

The details are as follows:

• A second offence results in a minimum of 30 days in jail.
• A third offence results in a minimum of 120 days in jail.
• Additional consequences consist of high fines and ignition interlocks.

Remember that everyone’s situation is different based on your actions as well as those of other concerned parties, making it possible to be charged with multiple offences.

How to Handle DUI Charges

Jaswal & Kreuger have experience with DUI offences and know that these types of cases are complex. This is why they work hard to understand all the details, thoroughly investigate, and help you avoid long-term damage to your driving record while guarding your privacy. Contact us today in Surrey and Peace River so we can get started on your case. We’re here to help.