Six motorcycles seized, riders fined for speeding

Being stopped, fined, and losing their bikes to the impound may have been “the best thing that ever happened” to six motorcyclists who were speeding on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, police say.

According to Cpl. Robert McDonald of the B.C. RCMP traffic services, the six riders were first spotted Thursday at about 9 p.m. headed southbound on the Seato-Sky Highway.

The group was first observed at an estimated speed of 140 km/h on Highway 99 near Porteau Road in Squamish. Soon after passing a police officer, they increased their speed.

The lead rider was later clocked doing 162 km/h, more than double the posted 80 km/h limit.

Police then stopped the entire group, as the riders were travelling with only two to three metres in between each bike.

“Each rider received an excessive speed violation ticket under the Motor Vehicle Act, and in accordance with that act, each motorcycle was automatically seized for a seven-day impound,” McDonald said.

Vehicles that are speeding excessively — more than 40km/h over the posted limit — must be seized and impounded for one week. The motorcyclists — who were riding on Honda, Ducati and Aprillia bikes — were fined $483, as they were doing more than 61 km/hour over the speed limit.

“I would definitely categorize this as extreme speed, at more than double the limit. Their actions were even more dangerous because they were all two to three metres from each other,” McDonald said.

“Getting pulled over may have been the best thing that ever happened to them.”