Mounties warn driving without insurance is costly following crashes near Chilliwack

CHILLIWACK — Don’t get behind the wheel of an uninsured vehicle. That was the message coming from Mounties following a pair of crashes in the Chilliwack area recently.

According to the BC Highway Patrol, nearly $800 in fines was handed to a driver, a 28-year-old Rosedale man, following a rollover along Highway 1 near Popkum on July 23. The fines included a $598 fine for driving with no insurance.

Just down the highway, about 40 minutes later, police were called to deal with another collision. A 34-year-old Nanaimo woman and her two passengers left the road and went down an embankment. The woman was also driving without insurance and received nearly $800 in fines.

Image: A vehicle left Highway 1 and went down an embankment on July 23, 2025. / Supplied by RCMP

In both incidents, excessive speed was considered to be a factor in the mishaps.

“Nobody was physically hurt, but both drivers will be feeling the pain in their pocketbooks,” said Corporal Michael McLaughlin with the BC Highway Patrol in a news release. “Choosing to drive without insurance puts you on the hook for tickets, the tow, all the repairs for your vehicle, and even higher premiums when you finally get insurance.”