BCHP - Burnaby partners with RCMP Helicopter Air 1 to catch excessive speeder

Burnaby, Langley, Surrey, Air 1 Unit, BC Highway Patrol, Traffic Patrol

2023-06-05 12:10 PDT

File # BCHP Burnaby 2023 1279

On May 19, 2023 at approximately 11:45pm, an officer with BC Highway Patrol - Burnaby was conducting speed enforcement on Highway # 1 near 192nd Street in Surrey, BC when he observed a black, older model Honda Civic sedan rapidly approaching in the Westbound lanes. The officer established that the vehicle was traveling at a speed of 152 km/h within the posted 100 km/h zone.

Unbeknownst to the driver, identified as a man from Burnaby in his 20’s, RCMP Helicopter Air 1 from Air Services had already been following him from the area of 232nd street in Langley. Air 1 had observed the vehicle driving erratically at speeds between 150 km/h and 160 km/h and alerted the nearby BC Highway Patrol officer who had just pulled in behind the suspect vehicle to initiate the traffic stop.

Aerial view from helicopter showing police vehicle behind black car on highway shoulder

Corporal Raymond Lee, with BC Highway Patrol – Burnaby said The driver initially denied speeding, but was definitely caught off-guard when our officer pointed up to that circling light in the night sky. As May is High Risk Driving Awareness month, we’ve been stepping up our enforcement of dangerous driving behaviours such as this. Unfortunately for the driver, his dangerous driving behaviour garnered the attention two separate police units at the same time.

The driver was charged under the BC Motor Vehicle Act for excessive speeding, as well as for not having his driver’s licence in his immediate possession. The vehicle, which was registered to the mother of one of the passengers, was promptly impounded for seven days.

BC Highway Patrol