A driver has had his car impounded and faces drug charges after RCMP caught him speeding at 130 kilometres per hour in a 60 kilometre per hour zone along Highway 19 on Sunday, Jan. 19. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

EXCESSIVE SPEED

Car impounded, drug charges pending after driver caught over double highway speed limit

Jan 22, 2020 | 5:54 AM

NANOOSE BAY — A driver with an extensive poor driving history is due to face several charges after a weekend traffic stop in Nanoose.

Central Vancouver Island Traffic Services caught a Port Alberni man in his late 40’s travelling 130 kilometres per hour in a 60 kilometre per hour zone near NW Bay Rd around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19.

The driver was immediately fined $483 for excessive speed. Another motorist on the highway told police the man had been tailgating, crossing the centre line and using excessive speed prior to being stopped.

These statements allowed police write a second ticket for $196 Driving without Consideration.

RCMP Traffic Services Cpl. Mike Halskov told NanaimoNewsNOW the driver was pulled over by police several times over the years.

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“He has several violations leading up to this particular offense and all that combined will form part of our report to road safety BC to ask them to consider prohibiting this driver for a period of time,” Halskov said.

He said the stretch of road around Nanoose is notorious for crashes and speeding drivers.

“As one approaches Northwest Bay Road from either the north or south of Highway 19 it becomes more congested,” Halskov said. “It is a four lane highway through there, however there is a lot of signage advising people to slow down to the speed limit and we do enforce in that area quite regularly”

During the traffic stop, police also confiscated drug paraphernalia and a small amount of white powder which officers believed to be illicit drugs.

Drug charges are pending against the driver.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley