Nearly $1K in fines for driver who claimed he was speeding because he was low on gas

British ColumbiaPolice in the B.C. Interior say they recently stopped a man who was going 36 kilometres per hour above the speed limit. The man claimed he was speeding because he was nearly out of fuel.7 occupants of speeding grey minivan weren’t wearing seatbelts, 3-year-old not properly buckled: RCMPCBC News · Posted: Aug 24, 2025 6:42 PM EDT | Last Updated: August 25Police say they recently stopped a grey minivan whose driver was going 136 km/h in a 100 km/h zone near Merritt, B.C. (B.C. Highway Patrol)Police in the B.C. Interior say they recently stopped a man who was going 36 km/h above the speed limit who claimed he was speeding because he was nearly out of gas.In a statement from RCMP B.C. Highway Patrol, police say they stopped a grey, eight-seater mini van only to find nine people inside. It happened near Merritt on Aug. 16.Police say the 36-year-old Edmonton man claimed he was travelling at 136 km/h in a 100 km/h zone due to a fuel shortage.Police say the grey minivan had to be refueled with a jerry can after running out of gas during the police stop. (B.C. Highway Patrol)That he was low on gas would appear true, with police reporting that “sure enough, the van ran out of gas at roadside.””We explained to the driver that speeding dramatically worsens your fuel economy,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin in the statement.In addition to the speeding, the driver was fined for having a three-year-old in a car seat that didn’t have functioning  buckles.Only two out of nine people in the vehicle were wearing seatbelts, according to police, some of whom were issued tickets.In total, police said the fines totalled $973, and the driver had to pay for a taxi to bring fuel to the van and transport the extra passenger.”There are many reasons to slow down. You will very likely avoid police attention, and you will be much safer,” McLaughlin said in the statement.”If you get into a collision at high speed, every person who is not wearing a seatbelt will die. You do not want that on your conscience.”