Al2-Sunday News, January 27, 1980

MAN DROVE DANGEROUSLY AFTER DRINKING

North Vancouver
Provincial Court Judge
Nancy Morrison ordered a
man to under an alcohol
reaction assessment when
told last week that he drove
dangerously after drinking
but while noting that his
blood-alcohol level was not
especially high.

Peter Walter Thiele, of
6663 Winch Street, Burnaby,
pleaded guilty to dangerous
driving and to driving witha

blood-alcohol level ex-
ceeding .08. He was fined
$250 on each charge.

Crown counsel’ Eric
Watson said that at about
1.45 a.m. December 20 a
constable at the intersection
of Hamilton and Fell saw a
Ford approaching from
behind at a high rate of
speed, estimated at 80-100
km.h, and drive through the
red light.

The officer followed the
car and saw the driver at-
tempt to turn into Jones but
miss the turn and continue
driving, in the oncoming

lane.
The car continued on,
even though there were

three or four vehicles ap-
proaching it in the lane in
which it was travelling.

Watson said Thiele tried
to turn into Fell at a high

Narrow GVRD vote?

FROM PAGE A1

member, turned thumbs
down on West Vancouver's
submission to retain control
of its own long-established
transit operation and deal
directly with the UTA.

The committee's 7-4
decision against West Van

ignored assurances. in
principle of independent
status as a “transit muni-
cipality’’ which, says
Humphreys, had _ been
received earlier from

Victoria. The decision also
contradicted a unanimous
resolution of support for
West Van's independent
transit status passed last
October by the GVRD itself.

Since then, however,
there would appear to have
been second thoughts on the
part of GVRD staff officials
leading to pressure for the

inclusion of West Van-
couver, after all, in the
overall GVRD transit
system.

If this happens, West Van
would lose all control over
transit operating within the
municipality. Fares, routes,
schedules and labor relations
would be determined solely
by the GVRD's transit
operating company.

The danger, according to
Humphreys, is that West
Van's local needs and cir-
cumstances would be
ignored in the interests of
“umiformity” throughout the
GVRD transitarea. -

For example, he says.
Blue Bus fares are presently
lower than on the deficit:
plagued Hydro system which
the GVRD_ will inherit
Routes and schedules have

SS
Ny
SENS,

New price po695

en

SAE ‘ .
* feat the new pices on Renaults
e Only PO to choose trom

Now oly

‘tinancing arranged on the spot

178 Mountview Motors

1600 Marine Drive,
North Van. 980-3431

B.C.’s largest AMC - Jeep -

been worked out to take
account of the municipality’s
peculiar georgraphy and its
special transit requirements
as a dormitory community
with an exceptionally large
senior citizen population.

As well, labor relations
with the Blue Bus employees
have, on the whole, been
excellent. On numerous
occasions when the Hydro
system has been disrupted by
strike action, the West Van
buses have continued
running.

In addition, the popularity
of the Blue Buses with West
Van residents — as indicated
by steadily increasing rider-

ship — has made the
operation much more cost-
efficient than the Hydro

system, despite lower fares.
Fifty per cent of operating
costs are now recovered
from the farebox as com-
pared to only 35 per cent in
the case of Hydro.

All these benefits, says
Humphreys, will be in
jeopardy if the Blue Buses
are “submerged” in the
GVRD system. Moreover,
he maintains, there is no
valid reason for such a step
because the Urban Transit
Act clearly provides for the
UTA to deal directly with
smaller municipalities which
already operate their own
buses.

West Vancouver is the

only such municipality in the
GVRD area.

The crunch is expected to
come this Wednesday when
the GVRD transportation
committee makes its recom-
mendations to the GVRD
board of directors on the

final cost sharing agreement
with the provincial govern

a

¥

¥

*4995

Renault dealer

+

ment. According to last
Wednesday's committee
vote, those recommenda-
tions would include denial of
independent transit status
for West Vancouver.

However, West Van-
couver sul has one or two
shots in its locker, says
Humphreys, because the
vote this Wednesday by the
GVRD board ts expected to
be a close one.

The board voted 37 to 23
last October to accept the
cost-sharing agreement “in
principle” but this result was
based on the weighted-vote
system which takes account
of the varying sizes of muni-
cipalities. On a one-director
one-vote basis the result was
a much narrower 12 to 10.

Since then several other
GVRD municipalities have
indicated opposition to the
agreement because of fears
that it will eventually lead to
increased

local property
taxes.
West Vancouver has
already voted against the

recommendations in
committee because of their
implications for the future of
the Blue Bus system. If this
week’s weighted board vote
were as close as 32-29 or
even a virtual tie. says
Humphreys, “it would be
unthinkable for the GVRD
to ratfy the cost-sharnng
agreement with Victoria in
its present form °

Ph produ tere tay oo oer

Judge orders alcohol reaction asses:

rate of speed but hit the kerb
and stopped, at which poimt
he and a passenger got out of
the car.

A breathalyzer test
showed readings of .15, .12
and .10.

DeLuxe

Strawberry Shortcake §
Sunday & Monday Jan. 27 & 28

cts made wi

Now open from 9:00 a.m. daily serving coffee & donuts!

emember Happy Night!

Every Tuesday 5pm ‘til Closing

404 Lonsdale 987-4131

%
i
i
|

He told the court he did
not know why he was driving
like that and that he could
not remember anything
about it. ‘

placed him on probation for
six months, with conditions
that he attend the drinking-
driving course and complete
an alcohol and drug com-

mission assessment on his
reaction to alcohol.

In addition
penalties,

to the fine
Judge Morrison

Ty
SE
SS SS
SENS oe _ SNS
SSS SENSES NS

2 with Real

Burgers— |) Price!

setter tM PA terrcgtene