CFV/TRAC on the road PAGE A3
Friday, April 3, 2015
nicholas family speaks PAGE A9
VOL. 101 NO. 61
www.quesnelobserver.com
kung-fu belt testing PAGE A15
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$ 30
PM 40005365
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Craft beer on tap A packed crowd at the Seniors’ Centre had the public sampling the offerings of craft beer producers from B.C.’s North. Many new favourites were discovered at the Quesnel Rotary Craft Beer Festival, March 27. Whitney Griffiths photo
New traffic legislation unnecessary and unenforceable, Marion AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter
After legislation was passed last week on leftlane hogs, some drivers are calling the new laws “unnecessary and unenforceable.” The legislation aims to make it easier for police to ticket drivers who don’t move over, unless they are: • overtaking and passing another vehicle; • moving left to allow traffic to merge;
• preparing for a left hand turn; • moving left to pass an official vehicle displaying a flashing light. “We already have a law that deals with this situation. Slow Driving is defined in the Motor Vehicle Act s.145(1),” Owner operator of ALM Driving School, Aimis Marion said. “Under this section you can be ticketed for driving too slow. “Too slowly for road conditions and
2014 Quesnel Volunteer Citizen of the Year AWARDS DINNER
April 21st, 2015 ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION Tickets on Sale at City Hall
obstructing the flow of traffic.” Marion pointed out a common misconception for many drivers: that the left lane is the fast lane, and the right the slow lane. Both have the same speed limit, hence his issue with the legislation. “Is this new law just a way to make the speeders stand out more, like a dandelion in the lawn going for the sun, it’s an easy target for the lawnmower, or the lawman in this case?” he
questioned. Marion further highlighted his point, using Dragon Lake Hill as an example: “So there is a vehicle going 70km/h in the right lane so I pull out to pass in the left lane. “Being that I don’t want to break the law, I am legally allowed to pass and use the left lane to do so, but I also am not allowed to speed. “So what happens when someone else wants to pass at a faster speed
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than 80km/h. Am I now in the wrong for doing only 80km/h to pass? “What if I stay in that lane at 80km/h to pass another vehicle further ahead? “Does the speeder behind me that is tailgating have the legal right to force me over?” The new law states drivers will only be permitted to use the left lane if it is unsafe to use the right, such as road conditions or debris. Or during periods of
traffic congestion when travel speed drops to 50 km/h or less. Marion said he emphasizes to students the fact that the right lane is safest, “you are farther from oncoming traffic and don’t have as many speeders and tailgaters in that lane to deal with,” he said. “But I am not afraid to use the left lane when I need it and if I am ticketed I will fight this law.”
Please join us at the
14 Annual Awards Gala th
Saturday, April 11
Quesnel Seniors’ Centre • Cocktails 5:15 pm Dinner 6:00 pm
Tickets $50 each You can pick up tickets at Sun Life Financial, or by calling Cathy at 250-747-1739 or emailing qcf@shaw.ca.