Even after 30 years on the job, a Vancouver police sergeant says he was âshockedâ when he issued a distracted driving ticket to a motorist who had just received the same ticket only eight minutes earlier.
The driver of a rented Hyundai Accent was first pulled over for using a cell phone at the busy intersection of Granville Street and West Broadway on Wednesday afternoon. Const. Prab Brar gave him a $368 fine for using an electronic device while driving.
Less than eight minutes later and only six blocks away from where he was first pulled over, the man was stopped again - this time by Sgt. Mark Christensen, who handed him another $368 ticket for distracted driving.
âWhen I pulled him over, the first words out of his mouth were, âI just got a ticket for this,ââ Christensen recalled to CTV Vancouver on Thursday.
When Brar heard that the same driver was caught again for the offence he had just fined him for, he said he was surprised.
âI just couldnât believe it,â he said.
In a warning to other motorists, the Vancouver Police Departmentâs Traffic Unit shared photos of the two traffic tickets on their Twitter account on Wednesday.
âCell phone $0⌠Rental Car $79⌠Getting caught by #VPD #distracteddriving TWICE within 8min & 6 blocks = EXPENSIVE (& Dangerous!)â .
The driver owes a combined total of $736, according to VPD. He will also receive 8 demerit points for the two infractions.
Even though the out-of-province motorist told Christensen he wouldnât return to Vancouver, the police departmentâs traffic unit will still have their hands full ensuring driversâ hands are empty.
âWeâll get you if you continue to do it,â Christensen warned. âWeâre actively hunting you down.â
With a report from CTV Vancouverâs David Molko