Vernon Woman Leaving Traffic Court Suspected of Impaired Driving

December 15 2025 - Vernon, B.C. - A Vernon woman was stopped for alleged impaired driving moments after leaving traffic court, according to BC Highway Patrol.

Police say the unusual incident happened just after 3 p.m. on October 28 at the Vernon Provincial Courthouse.

A 28-year-old woman had attended traffic court to request a reduced fine for a ticket.

While speaking with the officer who issued the original ticket, the officer formed grounds to believe she was impaired.

Officers then watched the woman leave the courthouse, get into a pickup truck, and drive away. She was stopped shortly afterward and failed an Approved Screening Device test.

The woman was issued a 90-day driving prohibition, and her vehicle was impounded for seven days. Police say the interaction was recorded on body-worn and in-car cameras and may be used as evidence if the case is contested.

With the Winter Impaired Driving campaign now underway, BC Highway Patrol is reminding drivers that impaired driving is preventable with basic planning before getting behind the wheel.