RCMP going digital for traffic tickets

Members of the Prince George and North District RCMP detachments will put down their pens and issue roadside electronic traffic violation tickets starting next month.

They will participate in a pilot program starting April 16 and wrapping up about a month later. It involves populating an online ticket template using equipment installed in RCMP vehicles.

In turn, the information can be quickly sent along to such organizations as Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, eliminating the need to mail tickets to these partners and for them to re-enter the details, according to the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

“The less time you, as an officer, have to spend outside your vehicle at the roadside, particularly when weather and road conditions are poor, the safer you are, so that’s one top reason that we’re eager to participate in this pilot,” said Insp. Jayson Lucash, officer in charge, RCMP North District traffic services.

Delta Police Department began using the technology on Monday and the program will start up at the Vancouver Police Department on April 2 and in the Victoria area on April 30.

“If we can make it harder for bad drivers to avoid the consequences of their decisions, and we can identify more quickly those drivers who perhaps shouldn’t be on the road, that will help us to prevent crashes, save lives and keep auto insurance affordable,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “Based on the program’s design and success in other jurisdictions, we’re optimistic that we’ll see these results during the pilot.”

The contents, penalties and validity of e-tickets will match that of traditional, written tickets.

However, e-ticket recipients will have the option to pay their fines through a new online payment service, PayBC, or continue to use existing payment methods, such as in-person at ServiceBC or ICBC locations, by phone or by mail.