BC taxi drivers are now required by law to wear seat belts

It may not be a law you were very familiar with, but until recently, taxi drivers in British Columbia were permitted to not wear a seat belt if they were travelling under 70 km/h.

However, that’s no longer the case after the law, which was under section 32.02 of the Motor Vehicle Act, was repealed on Sept. 15, 2019.

No matter their speed, all taxi drivers must be buckled up while driving.

“Thankfully, this closes one more door on a past that was blind to the simple fact that seat belts save lives,” said Sgt. Peter DeVries of the North Vancouver RCMP.

While there may have been a bit of a grace period, the RCMP warns that they will now start ticketing for this offence.

The punishment for not being buckled up is a fine of $167.