A Kelowna man lost points on his driving record but received creativity marks from B.C. Highway Patrol.

At 4 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 9, a RCMP officer clocked a grey Acura travelling 130 km/h in a 80 km/h zone on Highway 3 near Christina Lake.

“It’s amazing that this particular car could go that fast without disintegrating,” said BC Highway Patrol’s Cpl. Michael McLaughlin. “The owner had put in some effort to hammer out the dents and spray paint the repairs, but his car was not roadworthy. It looked like it had been chewed up by Robosaurus.”

According to Highway Patrol, the driver’s door could not stay closed and was being held together by a welded latch from a garden gate while a rear window was missing and was replaced by rebar and duct tape.

The driver of the vehicle was discovered to be a 22-year-old from Kelowna. He was issued:

• A $368 ticket for excessive speed (between 41 and 60 km/h);
• The cost of a tow truck and a seven-day vehicle impound at his expense;
• High-risk driver premiums and escalating insurance costs for a minimum of three years;
• A Notice and Order requiring the vehicle’s removal from the road until all defects are fixed and the vehicle passes an inspection (all at the owner’s expense).

“Any time you modify an essential component of your vehicle including door locks, windows, steering, brakes, or suspension, you need to get that vehicle inspected,” added McLaughlin. “And if you’re driving in a vehicle that’s obviously not roadworthy, you probably shouldn’t speed. Police can’t ignore that.”