As our regular readers know, over a couple of years our blog has become the source for news on Immediate Roadside Prohibitions (IRPs). As far as we’re concerned, the current drunk driving laws in BC mark a low point in our history. We have sacrificed fairness for expedience. Many innocent people have had their lives ruined by being wrongly issued a 90-day IRP. The Government seems bent on trying to turn alleged drunk drivers into a source of revenue for both the Government and their co-conspirators. It’s an ugly situation.
All of us in our law office recognized early on that we had a moral obligation – a moral imperative to expose the IRP scheme for what it is and to try to get these laws off the books. As lawyers and devoted citizens of BC we felt obliged to take on this challenge. We were also concerned that perhaps no one else had the knowledge and particulars skills, or gusto, to get in the trenches and take on the Government.
We’re not egotists, conceited or filled with foolish self-confidence. Still, we’re smart and we know what we’re doing. We had no desire to become a polarizing force. However, when our Government starts to resemble a totalitarian dictatorship or police state, you need to take a stand. So we decided to take a stand before things become much much worse.
If you’ve been following us, this is a recap of how we feel. We only mention our feelings about IRPs because in the last 10 days the number of people visiting our blog has doubled. We think that this is because the public mood has shifted on IRPs. So for the new readers, welcome to our blog. Now you have an understanding of what we’re doing. Please check out the old posts to see what got us to where we are.
A significant difference of opinions
We think that the people who conceived of and facilitated the IRP scheme should be fired and brought before a truth and reconciliation hearing for public humiliation and to apologize to the victims. This would go a long way to repairing the damage and to start the process of healing. They think that we should be muzzled, censored and that their goons should come over in the night to haul us away to be repeatedly tazered before being pushed out of an airplane at night over open seas.
So you can see the difference of opinions. From our perspective, democracy and the rule of law is at threat. From their perspective, a few Vancouver lawyers need to be eliminated before they can advance their zealous quest to turn our province into a police state.
It’s a stalemate at the moment. Our view is that the more that people know about the IRP scheme, the more they will want to stand up and oppose the Government. So we try to get the word out. We try to reveal some of the more easily explained injustices. Ironically, however, the Government has done this for us.
There are now more than 35,000 people who received 90-day IRPs. A great number of these people are also willing to take a stand and to speak out about the injustice done to them under this system. And as the numbers have increased, more and more people are learning of how you can be maltreated at the hands of the Government. Public confidence in drunk driving laws has fallen through the floor. The public mood has shifted on IRPs.
Obviously we’re going to keep going until everyone understands that this is a grossly flawed system that needs to be scrapped. We encourage everyone to get out and explain to people that the IRP scheme is a threat to our democracy and a threat to our freedom.
Alleged drunk drivers are the easy targets for the Government to vilify. The next group will be anyone who the police claim has committed a simple traffic violation. The following group will be anyone who disagrees with the Government.
If we lose the IRP battle, the others will be a lost cause. It’s best to flee before the goons show up at your door.
Interviews on the Simi Sara show
There were two recent interviews on the Simi Sara show about IRPs. Paul was interviewed from an undisclosed goon-proof location outside of BC. You can listen to the interview here at about the 18 minute mark in the recording.
More interesting, however, is Bob Mackin’s report on the RDP and Stroh which you can find here. We’re just getting started in our investigation of the RDP and Interlock programs. Thankfully, guys like Bob are on the case. We think it’s an excellent interview.
And in case you missed it, be sure to read Ian Mulgrew’s recent article on his interview with John van Dongen, the former BC Solicitor General. The article is here.
And finally, to Darcy – this blog post is for you. You know why we’ve taken a stand. It’s our obligation.