A conversation about party bus regulations still ends with tears for Julie Raymond, a decade after her daughter含羞草研究社檚 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.
含羞草研究社淭his is what Danielle (her daughter) and I have been working for ever since Shannon含羞草研究社檚 death,含羞草研究社� she said Friday afternoon. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 much needed.含羞草研究社�
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.
含羞草研究社淔or a long time, the party bus industry has been ignored, leaving glaring gaps in safety,含羞草研究社� said transportation minister Claire Trevena.
含羞草研究社淗ad those been in place prior to Shannon含羞草研究社檚 death, we wouldn含羞草研究社檛 be having this conversation,含羞草研究社� said Raymond. 含羞草研究社淢y daughter would still be alive.含羞草研究社�
She said this week含羞草研究社檚 changes might well have saved others, if they had come earlier.
In the intervening decade between Shannon含羞草研究社檚 death and the new regulations, there have been more high-profile party bus deaths 含羞草研究社� , 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.
含羞草研究社淭he RCMP and local police will be conducting focused enforcement during the holiday season and will continue to ticket people breaking the law.含羞草研究社�
Raymond said she hopes the new rules go far enough.
含羞草研究社淚 truly hope so. I don含羞草研究社檛 want any other family to go through what we went through. I wish we didn含羞草研究社檛 have this conversation. I wish my daughter was still here.含羞草研究社�
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