Kelowna bus driver allegedly drove drunk with passenger on-board
Credit to Author: Stephanie Ip| Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2020 21:08:31 +0000
A Kelowna bus driver has been issued an immediate roadside prohibition after police allege he drove drunk with a passenger on board.
Kelowna RCMP received a call from a passenger on a Kelowna Regional Transit bus at about 1:35 a.m. on Sunday. The passenger said the bus was being driven erratically and was concerned about the driver’s ability to drive.
A police officer caught up to the bus and ordered the driver to pull over near Harvey and Burch avenues in Kelowna.
“The bus driver exhibited several signs of impairment and subsequently failed a roadside breath test,” said a police news release.
The bus driver, a 52-year-old man, was issued a 90-day driving suspension.
“Fortunately, no one was injured during this incident,” said RCMP Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy. “This passenger is commended for noticing an issue and reporting it immediately.”
An immediate roadside prohibition is issued whenever a driver has a blood-alcohol concentration over 0.05 per cent. Penalties range from three-day driving prohibitions up to 90 days, along with vehicle impoundments between three to 30 days, and remedial programs and monetary fines.
B.C. Transit said it was aware of the incident, was taking it “very seriously” and said it had launched an international investigation of the matter.
“B.C. Transit has a fit-for–duty policy that we require operators and staff to follow, and not be impaired by any substance when behind the wheel or working,” read a statement released by the company. “The driver is not working or driving a bus. To respect privacy, we cannot speak to further human resource matters. I can assure you we’re taking this very seriously and taking all appropriate steps.”
The company referred all other questions to police.