A conversation about party bus regulations still ends with tears for Julie Raymond, a decade after her daughterB次元官网网址檚 death.
The Maple Ridge mother has lobbied for changes for 10 years, and she had been told this week by government officials that big ones were coming. Friday the province announced the requirement of a chaperone on board if there are minors present, fines that have been quadrupled, and other stiffer regulations.
B次元官网网址淭his is what Danielle (her daughter) and I have been working for ever since ShannonB次元官网网址檚 death,B次元官网网址� she said Friday afternoon. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 much needed.B次元官网网址�
Shannon was just 16 when she died of a drug overdose. She had been on a party bus in July 2008, and taken a lethal combination of the club drug ecstasy and alcohol. She was found dead at a Maple Ridge home at 6 a.m. on July 26.
Since then, Raymond has for more enforcement of party buses, which she maintains were effectively operating outside the law, such as allowing minors to consume alcohol.
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While the new fines will be implemented immediately, the other regulations are set to be in force next year.
B次元官网网址淔or a long time, the party bus industry has been ignored, leaving glaring gaps in safety,B次元官网网址� said transportation minister Claire Trevena.
B次元官网网址淗ad those been in place prior to ShannonB次元官网网址檚 death, we wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be having this conversation,B次元官网网址� said Raymond. B次元官网网址淢y daughter would still be alive.B次元官网网址�
She said this weekB次元官网网址檚 changes might well have saved others, if they had come earlier.
In the intervening decade between ShannonB次元官网网址檚 death and the new regulations, there have been more high-profile party bus deaths B次元官网网址� , 16, collapsed on a party bus in Surrey in 2013, but the BC Coroners Service ruled out drugs or alcohol in his death. Chelsea Lynn Mist died after falling out of a party bus in Vancouver in 2016.
The ministry reminded the public it is against the law to consume alcohol inside a vehicle.
B次元官网网址淭he RCMP and local police will be conducting focused enforcement during the holiday season and will continue to ticket people breaking the law.B次元官网网址�
Raymond said she hopes the new rules go far enough.
B次元官网网址淚 truly hope so. I donB次元官网网址檛 want any other family to go through what we went through. I wish we didnB次元官网网址檛 have this conversation. I wish my daughter was still here.B次元官网网址�
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