Expired license comes back to haunt Abbotsford motorist

ABBOTSFORD — A motorist’s expired license was just the tip of the iceberg for the Abbotsford Police Department during a traffic stop Sunday.

AbbyPD’s Traffic Enforcement Unit stopped a vehicle Sunday afternoon just after 5 p.m. for operating with an expired insurance. During a subsequent traffic stop and interaction, an Abbotsford PD officer detected a whiff of liquor on the driver’s breath.

While the driver denied consuming any alcohol, police administered a roadside breath test which resulted in a fail reading.

Police say the driver is now banned for driving for 90 days, the vehicle has been impounded for a month, and a $500 fine has been issued, on top of towing and impound fees, although critics would argue the $500 fine is miniscule given the risk impaired drivers pose to the general public.

“AbbyPD’s frontline officers are highly trained in detecting and removing impaired drivers from our streets to keep Abbotsford safe. If you’ve been drinking, make the responsible choice — plan ahead and find a safe ride home,” the police department wrote in a social media post.

Police provided a picture of the vehicle driven by the impaired motorist being towed Sunday evening, accompanied by one of their traffic unit vehicles.