The B.C. government is tightening rules and reiterating a ban on alcohol in all limos and party buses in the lead-up to high school graduation season.
Transportation Minister Todd Stone announced February 26 that his government has changed rules to require the Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) to approve all limousines and other vehicles that have perimeter seating, or seats that are not in rows, and grant those vehicles a special authorization license (SAL).
This change eliminates what Stone believes was a competitive advantage that limousine licensees who had a general authorization license previously had.
Those licensees were able to set rates, work anywhere in the province, and add vehicles to their fleet at any time. Now that they will have to have a SAL, they will have rates, areas of operation and fleet size regulated by the PTB.
The PTB will also more extensively review applicants before allowing them to get a licence. Part of that review will be to have the applicants sign a form saying that they understand that passengers may not drink alcohol and that if they are not in compliance with that rule, they could lose their license.
"This is an effort to improve safety and level the playing field from a regulatory perspective so that all limousines are regulated equally," PTB chair Don Zurowski told Business in Vancouver after Stone's announcement.
The changes follow longtime calls from critics to more tightly regulate the province’s limousine and party bus industry.
Maple Ridge’s Raymond family, for example, has been calling for changes since the 2008 death of 16-year-old Shannon Raymond, who died after riding on a party bus and taking two ecstasy pills and drinking rum during a birthday party for a friend.
Members of the Raymond family were on hand as Stone held a press conference moments after releasing his statement.
Attorney General Suzanne Anton reiterated that drinking in limousines and party buses is illegal in B.C. and said new regulation under the PTB would heighten the ability to enforce those laws.
“Drinking alcohol on a party bus, limo, SUV or any other vehicle continues to be illegal and police will continue to enforce this law
on B.C.'s roads,” Anton said in a statement.
“Now, with these changes for limousines with perimeter seating, government will be better able to regulate the industry, ensuring that operators adhere to the strengthened terms and conditions of their licences.”
Vehicles with SALs will have unique identifier plates so the local police and commercial vehicle safety and enforcement officers will be able to easily identify the vehicles and determine whether they are operating within the terms of their licence.
Licensees who currently have a general authorization licence and want to continue to operate their perimeter seating vehicles will have until May 1 to get a SAL.
