36 ~ Friday, May 22, 1998 — North Shore News north shore news a IT’S getting more expensive to drive like a bonehead. Starting Tune 1, driver “penalty point premiums” will increase significantly and exponentially to the number of points acquired. A Penalty Point’s related fine is completely separate from the fine one pays when issued a ticket fora traffic violation. A speeding ticket, for example, includes a fine of up to $125. Iralso includes three | “penalty points” which gn relatively unnoticed until you renew you mandatory ICBC auto insurance. Now chat ICBC is amal- gamated with the Motor License Office, you can’t go more than a year without facing the reality of this pre minum. In effect, you may pay for a ticket rwice. It’s nor all bad news though. As always, your first three acquired points are, in essence, freebies. wathat is to say, premiums don’t kick in unless a driver has four or more points in one year. In 1997, 98% of drivers had less than four points. The average driver- — which ICBC president Thom Thompson describes as “the generally safe driver «who simply mak mistakes” — wins a ticket credit a year and pays no premium (though they do pay the fine attributed to the actual vio- ” Jation). Reasoning that drivers with four or more points gained i in a year are the “worst drivers,” penalty pre- miums affect only them. Drivers with exactly four points on their license must paca $i75 premium when they renew their insurance (up from $160). Again, the premium is on -rop of the fine or fines asso- --eiated with the, initial viola- tion ticker. Drivers with cight points do not simply pay dounle the four-point premium — or $350; they pay a hefty $520 (darn exponents). The rates ine curve to a whopping $24,000 for 50 acquired penalty points ina year. However, it would take quite the bonehead to rack ~ up 50 points in one year ~whetFyou consider the aver- age violation carries only two or three points. Some examples of the two point ticket include: running a red or yellow light or a stop sign; turning sebcut signalling, backing n intersection; and ng too slow in the fast Same of the three-poi clude: speeding; dri- .too slow; failing to stop for a school bus; and following. too close. Pull anyone of the afore- mentioned stunts and you'll still be.premium free, bur: an’two’ such violations and you pay the price. g¥ou.can_ acquire numer- ous points with one act of stupidity like driving without reasonable consider: % signal ation for others (pretty vague /all-encompassing, huh?) which will net vou six points (and if that was your only offence in one year it would cost you $300). Things get a little more serious with the 10 point violations, which will cost you $905 jor more if vou have more tickets). Ten poims in one ticket? Nearly a thousand bucks. How do you avoid one of those nasty coupons? Well, don’t drink and drive — that’s 10 points right there. And don't kill anvone for heaven’s sake. Manslaughter is 10 points too. To my dismay, people who acquire numerous points in one year and thereby prove ‘themselves true boneheads with flagrant disregard for others, merely pay for = AUTO New point pian starts June that privilege. Currently, the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles can suspend any- one’s driver’ for too penaity hink he does? I know a fellow who had 24 points and was threatened with 3 licence vanking, but after g thar he needed his car for work, the threat went away (but he pavs pre- All wheel drive A8S Air bags SILISION SPECIAL T miums like they‘re going out of style). I also recall ex- Transportation and Highways Minister Jackie Pement boasting that “rough new measures by the proviacs to collect unpaid trathic fines are getting results.” Citing an example, Pement said “J. an offender ree - ARA. Oar 40th. Year | APPROVED CENTRE ae H ALL MAKE COLLISION REPAIRS | : “LIFETIME GUARANTEE” Alternative transportction arranged! * Estimates * TALKING | Gi Consultation Vises cone 299-9000 DON TAYLOR 985-7455 (7141515. Foam Bonchead page 38 80 watt AM/FM cassette Keyless entry Fog lamps & sport rack 165 H.-P. engine Power windows & locks Power heated mirrors Purchase Financing 24 - 36 - 48 mos. “T don’t take chances with safety. So it’s a safe bet PH have my After ail, we designed and built it in the first. lace. As a resul, our technicians ore factory: ” - are designed to service G/M vehicles, and we only use genuine GM parts. So we gat he job done right, the first time, ot exactly | price ihot you're quoted. That's a brake service you wor't find anywhere els “ ENHANCE BRAKING PERFORMANCE AND EXTEND BRAKE LIFE. * Parts & Labour included * replace front pads or rear shoes with GM AC Delco brake lining * re-surface deus or rotors if necessary * inspect and _ lubricate hardwere * inspect: master cylinder, calipers and ‘broke lines * road test * limited lifetime warranty on GM AC Deico brake pads and shoes * applica fo most GM cars and light duty trucks, 4x4’s ond 3500 series excluded * shop and environmental charges included * toxes extra * denler may sell for less ¢ limited time offer *Covers AC Delco brake pods/shoes for as fang a8 ysu own the vehicle when professionally iniioiled ET-OLDSMOBILE 98; 52 3 ADILLAC-GM 985-6333