G licence drivers frequently breaking the rules, RCMP say

RCMP are finding more and more that teenagersare "piling" into each other's cars and breaking the rules around being a driver within thegraduated licence system.

"It's quite a frequent occurrence, especially on the weekends when the young drivers are more apt to be out and about," saidCst. Jamie ParsonswithRCMPin Stratford.

"You do get one almost every weekend."

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The particular ruleParsons refersto is the one restricting the numberof people allowed in the vehicle of a G driver, shown onthe program website:

• Only one non-family member is permitted as a passenger. All other passengers must be members of the driver's immediate family.

Anyone caught breaking the rulewill beissued a summary offence ticket with a fine up to$275whichalso comes with demerit points, he said. Also, the driver's licence will besuspended for 30 daysforthe first offenceand90 daysfor the second.

This is easily avoidable, Parsons said, by following RCMP'snumber one rule of advice: don't give in to peer pressure.

'It's time to start thinking before you head out'

Parsons said one of the most common excuses he hears from new drivers is that "my friends were stuck for a ride" or "I'm sober driving."

"The last car I pulled over was a 16-year-old female driver and she had some youth in the car that were drinking earlier in the evening and her [excuse] was that she was pressured into sober driving these people home," he said.

"I get what she was trying to tell me, but at 16, 17, 18years old these are young adults now so it's time to start thinking before you head out into the nighttime.Make a plan to get home."

Even if driving sober, young drivers will be stopped and parents will be called to come get their kidsor they'll be given a ride home by the police.

Another rule that's often being disobeyed is displaying the Gdecal in the windshield. Parsons said many drivers aren't showing their decals, or are taking them off the window"to try and trick us, as the police, that they're not a Gdriver."

"We fine someone not displaying the decal in the windowand we think that they're doing it on purpose to deceive us," he said.

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