BACKGROUNDER - BC NDP MLA introduces bill addressing reckless driving, following tragedy for local family

What the Bill Does:

Creates an immediate 30-day driving prohibition for reckless driving, giving police the authority to take dangerous drivers off the road right away.
Requires police to report every reckless driving prohibition to the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles so that repeat or high-risk drivers can be identified and acted upon.
Defines “reckless driving” clearly in the Motor Vehicle Act, including behaviours such as extreme speeding, deliberate loss of control, and racing.
Builds a stronger prevention system by focusing on early intervention and road safety before a death or injury occurs.

How it interacts with other laws:

Federal Bill C-14 gives judges the power to impose driving bans when reckless or dangerous driving causes death or serious injury.
Motor Vehicle Amendment Act (No.2), 2025, “Xavier’s Law,” complements those changes by focusing on prevention, acting before harm occurs.
The Motor Vehicle Act already allows the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles to impose driving prohibitions of up to 36 months for high-risk drivers.
This new 30-day prohibition adds a front-end safety measure and ensures that all reckless driving incidents are reported and reviewed for further action.

Private Members’ Bill Process

Xavier’s Law is a Private Members’ Bill, meaning it was introduced by MLA Dana Lajeunesse rather than a government minister.
Private Members’ Bills do not expire when a session ends. They remain on the order paper and can be re-introduced or carried forward when the Legislature resumes.

New Democrat