Have an idea for a story? Let us know! Contact: Mercedes Deutscher, News Editor Minews@theotherpress.ca (Y New chapter for Mohamed Fahmy (¥Y Former Douglas College president received salary until recently (Y Distant Milky Way star structure emits strange light patterns And more! Transit network consultation: Be heard! » TransLink asks for answers from community Aaron Guillen Staff Reoorter A fter multiple times trying nd failing to make users happy, TransLink is reaching out to the general public with a new survey taking place until November 6. Promoted on its website as a way to “get engaged this fall and have your say on transit changes in your community,” TransLink is hoping for Metro Vancouver residents to be a part of the company’s improvements to transit in the upcoming year. “We strive to put services where they are needed most to support areas of high ridership, provide transit options in growing areas, and deliver a basic level of transit access across Metro Vancouver,” TransLink says on their website. In order to keep everything organized, TransLink has : created an “Area Transit Plan : Program.” The goals that have : been set by the transportation : company, according to the : Transit Network Consultation : webpage, are as follows: : integrating bus service to : better connect to the Evergreen : extension, decreasing : travel time on busy routes, : extending service to areas : with high commuter demand, : taking advantage of road : and infrastructure changes, : and creating a more efficient : transportation network, The system is being used to : coordinate potential land use, : and how it can be developed for : future expansion. For example, : New Westminster community : shuttle busses will be changed : to reduce overcrowding : and improve connectivity. : Additionally, it has been : : proposed that the 106 bus, which : : travels between Metrotown : : and New Westminster SkyTrain : stations, will be split in half at : Edmonds in order to improve : reliability. Recent studies show : that fewer than four people : on average stay on the 106 : after Edmonds, according to : TransLink. However, no changes : will be confirmed until after : TransLink has had a chance to : get sufficient feedback. “No final decisions have been made, and we're listening : to our customers so we can take : their concerns and feedback : into account,” TransLink Vice : President of Communications : and Customer Service Colleen : Brennan explained in a press > release. All of these small changes : have the potential to make : transit an easier place to access : come 2016. Just by taking the : survey, participants will be able Photo by Ian Fisher via Twitter : to choose which proposed routes : Matter to them most, and rate : items ona scale from strongly : agree to strongly disagree in : order to share their opinions. Supreme Court allows for continued. tough drunk driving laws » Previous laws upheld, but with limits Mercedes Deutscher News Editor & news@theotherpress.ca case brought forth by six BC drivers ended with little result on October 16, when the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) ruled that BC’s tough stance on drinking and driving was justified. However, the case did not end without any amendments, as the SCC suggested that more oversight and accountability toward the police was need. Lee Wilson, Richard Goodwin, and four other drivers brought the case to the Supreme Court late last year, where it was approved. The case was heard by the SCC in May. Wilson was banned from driving for three days in 2012 after a breathalyzer placed him in a warning range, while Goodwin received a 90-day prohibition from driving— along with a 30-day vehicle impoundment—after failing a 0.8 breathalyser roadside test in 2011. The other four drivers involved also failed roadside tests, “The province’s objective was a valid objective, but it : : needed to be balanced by charter : : rights,” said lawyer Shea Coulson : : to CBC. “The court’s biggest : concern was that the device used : : by police was unreliable.” : Coulson argued in the case > that it was unconstitutional : for police to give out automatic : restrictions during roadside : tests. The plaintiffs argued that : the punishments enforced by : the province were like criminal : charges in disguise, which is an : area that is not the province’s : responsibility, but the federal government's. As well, they : argued that they felt denied : to the right of presumption of : innocence. The SCC disagreed, ruling : that the BC government is right : in its choice to impose strict : penalties toward drunk drivers. “The ultimate question is whether the review provisions of : the roadside suspension scheme : offer reasonable protection : against abusive exercise of the : state power to intrude on the : individual’s private sphere, : having regard to the nature : of the scheme and the privacy : interests at stake,” said SCC Chief : : Justice Beverly McLachlin to : CBC. “In my view, the answer to : this question is yes.” Still, the SCC agreed : that more ways to challenge : roadside prohibitions were : necessary. Actions toward better: : accountability of law enforcement : were made back in 2012, when : BC made amendments to its pre-existing drunk driving laws : following a similar case at the BC: : Supreme Court. The amendments : : allowed for increased appeals, : : including the opportunity to : take another breathalyzer test : administered by a different officer. ! Some, including Coulston, believe that the SCC ruling : will open the gates for other oO = oO o 8 at a4 to = oO a > 2° 2 ° G a : provinces to enforce their own : tough drunk driving laws. “You'll probably see that kind of toughness being rolled : out in the other provinces now,’ : Coulston said to the Globe and : Mail. BC’s drunk driving laws have : been shown to have saved the : lives of 260 people since their : inception in 2010.