A private members bill authored by Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer has officially passed the legislature after months of advocacy and debate.
Bill M-217, which will require dashboard cameras in commercial vehicles in B.C., passed third reading Monday (May 25), marking the culmination of a years-long push led by regional leaders concerned about highway safety.
“It actually came forward in November when we got to the first reading and then six or seven months later here we are getting it across the finish line,” Stamer said.
Stamer said the idea dates back to his time as mayor of Barriere, when a resolution supporting mandatory dash cams in commercial trucks was unanimously endorsed by both the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) and the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM).
“It has been four or five years since that started,” said Stamer. “Through the advocacy of people like Clearwater mayor Merlin Blackwell and Chief Lampreau and other leaders throughout the region, we were able to get a bill put forth, work it through committee a few times and today we finally got it passed.”
The bill hit turbulence earlier this month after NDP members raised concerns about privacy protections, enforcement and the definition of what constitutes a commercial vehicle.
At the time, Nanaimo-Lantzville MLA George A.G. Anderson said the Ministry of Transportation and Transit believed amendments were needed to clarify “who can access the footage, how long it will be retained and other enforcement mechanisms.”
Stamer said those concerns were ultimately addressed during committee discussions.
“There was hesitancy about privacy issues but we have very strong privacy laws in B.C. when it comes to private business versus public,” he said. “I think that showed going through committee where those questions and concerns were answered.”
One of the final amendments increased the minimum gross vehicle weight covered under the legislation from 8,200 kilograms to 11,793 kilograms — effectively targeting larger transport trucks.
“I am fine with that,” Stamer said. “I think it is important for us to work together on this and now it is going to be law.”
Stamer credited MLAs from all parties for helping move the legislation forward.
“I want to thank all members of all parties because it is a bipartisan bill. It is not just my bill,” he said.
While implementation details are still being worked out, Stamer noted many commercial vehicles already use dash cameras voluntarily.
“The reality is most of the trucks already have dash cams,” he said. “I don’t think it is going to take that much to take it to the next level where we have it mandated in all the trucks.”
He added discussions are expected between the province, federal counterparts and industry groups including the BC Trucking Association to determine how the legislation will be rolled out and enforced.
Stamer said the bill was partially inspired by long-standing safety concerns along Highway 5 and the Yellowhead corridor, where he argues infrastructure investment has lagged behind other major B.C. highway routes.
“It is unfair that from Kamloops to Calgary they have received $2 billion in the last 10 years and Highway 5 has only received one per cent of that,” he said.
He said dash cameras could help provide critical evidence in collisions and dangerous driving investigations.
“About a week ago there was an erratic dangerous driver that had passed a couple of vehicles on a double solid line,” Stamer explained. “The dash cam footage they showed the RCMP officer meant instead of getting excessive speed, they got charged with dangerous driving.”
“So that will help as well — not only having the trucks being more responsible but for the public at large so that when something does occur we have extra evidence and hopefully it makes our roads safer in the end.”
