B.C. to implement 'Grant's Law' to protect gas station workers

The B.C. government plans to introduce aregulation to help protect gas station attendants from "gas-and-dash" crimes.

"Grant's law" will require urban gas stations inB.C. to have a mandatory pre-pay system in operation at night.

Labour Minister Olga Ilich made the announcement Wednesday at the B.C. legislature, surroundedby the family of Grant De Patie.

De Patie was killed in March 2005 while trying to stop a fleeing motorist from stealing $12 worth of gas from a service station in Maple Ridge, B.C. He was struck and dragged to his death.

A report by WorkSafeBC said the station wasn't enforcing its policy requiring attendants to remain inside at night.

De Patie's parents, Doug and Corinne,said they're confident the new regulation will help prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Ilich said details of the regulation haven't been finalized, but she expects the mandatory pre-payment system to be in force between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The De Patiessaid they've spent countless hours working for the regulation and that their son, who would have turned 26 Wednesday, wouldhave been very proud.

The government hopes to have the law in place by early next year.