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DECEMBER 17, 2000
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Freeze
causes
foul-ups

THE morning commute
on Friday was more like
a slide show.

Although most main roads were
clear and salted, side strcets through:
out the North Shore were coated in
ice, Numerous people tell on icy side”

“walks and car accidents occurred.

in the Edgemont area, 3 Cardinal
‘Transportation school bus contracted
to Collingwood School hit o patch of
ice at Brantwood and Paisley streets
near Capilano Road. The bus bit a
power pole at 8 aim, and wires fell on
the -vehicle, “Fhe bes occupants,
including tour students, stayed in the
bus for more than an bour uetil the
power was turned off. A North
Vancouver, ROMP spokesman said
the fallen fines turned aut tobe
phone lines.

Other ice-retated accidents includ-

wed i five-car. ntishap at) 28th and
Jones, and a three-car accident: near
Mount Seymour Parkway. Hydro
power.was offon Friday in the British
Properties’ Moyne and Easteot area
due to a fallen wire, Bowen IMand
power was out from the wind storm.

~Anna Marie D'Angelo

Katharine Hamer
News Reporter khamer@usnews.coni

A GVRD board motion to rescind approval
for TransLink’s controversial vehicle levy

“was narrowly defeated Friday.

Board members voted 50-48 against rescinding approval.
Among: the North Shore’s GVRD_ representatives, West
Vancouver District Coun. Victor Durman voted to rescind
approval, maintaining his opposition to the levy. North Vancouver
District Mayor Don Bell, whose support for the levy has wavered,
.. (said he voted to rescind while North Vancouver City Mayor

“Barbara Sharp opposed the motion.

‘The levy was first approved by the TransLink board Nov, 22.
Bell, as North Shore TransLink representative, was among those
who voted 7-5 in favour of the levy.

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Support reduced; cameras
approved to track scoffiaws

Bell has since changed his opinion, in part because of the Lat-
-est collection method for the levy approved by ‘TransLink at its
Wednesday board meeting.

TransLink directors voted 6-5 Wednesday in favour of using,
surveillance if necessary to ensure that Lower Mainland motorists
pay the lew.

The surveillance system would have cameras taking pictures of
vehicle licence plates on public roadways,

Motorists scen driving on local roadways who had not paid the
$40 to $120 weight-based vehicle Jevy would be sent a bill
through the mail. Parking tickets and other traffic offences are
being seen as another potential souree of information.

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NEWS photo Mike Wakefieid

SCHOOL bus driver Dave Ross checks out the damage on Friday morning after his vehicle with four Collingwood School kids on board
hit ice and then a power pole that caused phone wires to fall on the bus at Brantwood and Paisley in Edgemont. No one was hurt.

‘TransLink is hoping to access government and ICBC databas-
es to tind out who owns the photographed vehicles.

Potential fines for those who continued to derive without pay-
ing the fevy range frem $100 for a first offence to a maximum of
$500,

TransLink would need provincial government backing for the
penalties. :

The projected cost of billing and enforcing fines through the
surveillance system is $9.5 million a year. The vehicle levy, intend-
ed to kelp pay for transit and road improvements throughout the
GVRD, is estimated to raise around $95 million in its first full year
of operation. :

Some vehicles would be exempt from paying the levy, includ- | |
ing ambulances, municipal and farm vehicles, and those owned by
disabled drivers.

See Federal page 13