Image: BC Highway Patrol
Excessive speed

B.C. Porsche driver caught for double the speed limit asks for leniency due to her birthday

Jan 5, 2026 | 11:39 AM

SEA TO SKY HIGHWAY — The driver of a Porsche didn’t exactly persuade police to go easy on her after she was clocked at more than double the speed limit on the Sea to Sky Highway during the holidays.

According to a statement from BC Highway Patrol spokesperson Corporal Michael McLaughlin, the Porsche, a rented Volkswagen, and a Subaru started 2026 in an impound lot thanks to three excessive speeding stops from a single BC Highway Patrol officer in one day on the Sea to Sky Highway.

In the latter part of the morning on Tuesday, Dec. 30, a VW and a Subaru were observed going much faster than other traffic on Highway 99 near Porteau Cove. Police say the Subaru driver sped up because the VW had been tailgating them. Meanwhile, the tourist driving the VW wanted to get ahead at the end of two merge lanes because he was heading to the airport. Police clocked the VW at 154 km/h, the Subaru 149 km/h in an 80 km/h zone.

“Merge lanes are not the time to get competitive,” said Corporal McLaughlin. “At best your dangerous driving will gain you a few seconds. At worst you’ll crash horribly or lose hours of your time getting your vehicle impounded by police. If you want to save time, leave earlier and drive the speed limit.”

Later that afternoon, a yellow Porsche was stopped in the same area doing 88 km/h over the limit, or 168 km/h. The driver asked police to be “considerate” because she was celebrating her birthday.

All three drivers received:

  • Excessive speed (more than 60 km/h), section 148(1) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act ($483);
  • Seven-day vehicle impounds (including the cost of the tow truck);
  • The BC drivers will face at least three years of high-risk driver premiums and escalating insurance costs totalling about $2,500;
  • The driver of the rental will likely face additional premiums or penalties from the rental company.

“It’s our job to keep the roads safe,” Cpl. McLaughlin said. “If you drive inconsiderately, you will face the consequences no matter the occasion.”