A Squamish resident is facing charges of street racing after taking the police on a car chase while allegedly drunk last weekend.Police said they spotted the 22-year-old male at approximately 10:50 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 27) when he barely avoided a cement barricade while driving his white Jeep Cherokee southbound on Highway 99.
Police attempted to pull the driver over, but he instead did a u-turn at Finch Drive and sped northbound along the highway. Members held back but succeeded in closing the distance between vehicles.
The driver turned right at Garibaldi Way then onto Mamquam Road and back onto the highway. Through the Jeep's licence plate number, police were able to determine where he resided and co-ordinated efforts to box him in. The driver was apprehended near Angelo's Trailer Court and taken into custody where he was given a breathalyzer test. The driver blew three times over the legal limit.
Along with charges of impaired driving and flight from police, RCMP are recommending the driver be charged with street racing under a new Criminal Code section. Recent adjudication states that if a driver attempts to outdistance another driver while in an unstolen vehicle, racing charges can apply.
The charge allows RCMP to prohibit driving for 15 days and impound the vehicle until a hearing is held. The driver was released on condition that he appear in court.
