Winter tires mandatory
Theresa Gilderdale and Jonathan Wimbush stand with a winter tire at Canadian Tire in Merritt.
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Driving on snowy B.C. highways without winter tires will be a financial risk as well as a safety concern this season.
The RCMP’s Central Okanagan Traffic Services is reminding motorists that not having winter tires on certain highways can result in a $121 ticket.
Signs have been posted on designated highway areas where motorists are required to use winter tires.
For Merritt, that includes the Coquihalla and most routes heading out of town between Oct. 1 and the end of April.
This doesn’t mean, however, that fines will be issued before the first flakes start to fall.
“The rule of thumb is, if you are an active user of these kinds of roads, just put your winter tires on so they’re on and don’t wait to put them on when it’s snowing,” said Const. Steve Holmes with the Kelowna RCMP. “But we exercise common sense with respect to enforcement too. It’s not like we’re out targeting people on August 1.”
Until this year, the signs have been for education, said Holmes, but this year police will be enforcing the rule in areas where conditions are known to be hazardous.
Road blocks may be set up to ensure people are obeying the law.
Winter tires have a symbol of a mountain with a snowflake within it on the side, and this is the only symbol that denotes a true winter tire. Tires with a snowflake symbol or the word “snow” are not necessarily made for winter driving, and would not be considered sufficient for severe winter conditions, Holmes noted.
At Canadian Tire in Merritt, winter tires are selling fast and the automotive department has a waiting list for vehicle winterization.
“We sold out the first bit that we got but we order more in daily,” said service advisor Theresa Gilderdale.
Though some people may argue they cannot afford to buy a new set of winter tires, which can be more than $500, the new law will make no exceptions for those caught without them in designated areas.
Cost should not be used as an excuse, said Corporal Mike McVicar, with the Central Okanagan Traffic Services.
“Your vehicle is required to have the proper tires for your safety and the safety of other people,” he said. “If people can’t afford it, well, then they’re going to have to reassess driving in those conditions.”
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