Bill 15, the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act, 2015, was introduced in the legislature today by Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton.

If passed, the amendments will affect the following provincial statutes:

AirCare program: The AirCare program ended on Dec. 31, 2014, for light duty passenger cars and trucks. Legislation amendments formally end the AirCare Program, which ceased to operate for all light-duty passenger cars and trucks in the Lower Fraser Valley as well as Metro Vancouver. Great progress has been made in reducing air pollution from light-duty vehicles, in part, because newer vehicles are designed to meet more stringent emission standards. Technological advances in the emissions reduction capability of new vehicles also continues to increase. Since the program began in 1992, emissions from light-duty vehicles have decreased by 89%. Since 2007, both the AirCare failure rate and the number of vehicles failing have steadily dropped - from 14% to less than 8% when the program ended.

Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) program: The Province introduced amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) today to continue to uphold and enhance B.C.’s tough approach to curbing drinking and driving. If passed, the proposed amendments will further protect road users by streamlining the remedial referral and reconsideration process and preserving the IRP program’s integrity. They respond to recent court decisions and enhance the fairness of the administrative review process by, for example, giving the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles the authority to revoke an IRP upon review when a sworn report has not been provided by police.

The proposed changes will also create mandatory requirements for drivers, whose driving records meet certain criteria that demonstrate unsafe driving behaviour, to participate in the Province’s remedial driving programs. This will further strengthen the life-saving legislation, introduced in September 2010. Since that time, B.C. has lead the way nationally on tackling drinking and driving, with an estimated 238 lives saved and a 52% reduction in alcohol-related motor vehicle fatalities.

Keep right: The amendment, if passed, clarifies that drivers cannot drive in the left lane of a high-speed highway unless they are passing, avoiding debris, allowing others to merge, or other similar situations. This amendment will make it easier for police to ticket drivers who do not move over.

Winter tires: This amendment, if passed, allows the ministry to define winter tires as those with a mountain/snowflake symbol or the mud-and-snow symbol by regulation. As well, studded tires and chain requirements can also be defined in regulations rather than through the Motor Vehicle Act.

Motorcycle parking: Another change in the legislation will permit municipalities to regulate motorcycle parking to within six metres of intersections with traffic control signs or signals. This will mean that motorcycles can use space more efficiently.

Media Contacts:

AirCare program:
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834

Immediate Roadside Prohibition program:
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 213-3602

Keep right/Motorcycle parking/Winter tires:
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241