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Speeder caught near Merritt (Image Credit: BC RCMP)
By Vernon Matters Staff
Getting the Message?

Speeding tickets down, but police urge caution in poor weather

Nov 10, 2026 | 10:48 AM

BC Highway Patrol issued 1,376 speeding tickets across the Central B.C. region during its annual October road safety campaign, down from 1,443 last year.

The region includes Kelowna, Kamloops, Merritt and Clearwater.

Provincewide, officers issued 6,695 tickets during October’s Drive Relative to Conditions campaign — nearly 1,200 fewer than in 2025. Police say reduced staffing levels may partly explain the decline.

But a traffic stop near Merritt shows why officers say speeding remains a concern.

On Oct. 25, a patrol officer spotted a Ford F-350 emerging from fog on Highway 97C in wet snow and rain. Radar clocked the truck at 166 km/h in a 110 zone.

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The 28-year-old Abbotsford driver was issued two tickets totalling $966, and the truck was impounded for seven days.

Police also discovered the vehicle had failed to undergo a required mechanical inspection following a previous notice and order in August. Its insurance was suspended until repairs and an inspection are completed.

BC Highway Patrol estimates the total cost in fines, repairs and increased insurance premiums will exceed $4,000.

Superintendent Lori Orstad says speed limits are based on ideal conditions, not rain, snow, fog or darkness.

She urges drivers to adjust their speed as fall and winter weather sets in, reminding motorists that driving at the posted limit isn’t necessarily driving safely.

by Vernon Matters Staff
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