Once again the best-laid plans have hit a glitch, namely ICBC.  I have been
informed that due to the B.C. Utilities Commission becoming the regulator
for ICBC that it is no longer their decision, it is now between the
regulator and government.  That explanation didn't sound right to me so I
contacted Blair Lekstrom (better know as BCCOM's own Minister of
Motorcycling and the person that sat in with me for the hour long meeting we
had last May with ICBC) and asked if this was indeed the way it was going.
Blair was astounded that the folks at ICBC said this as it seems the entire
point of the regulatory committee is to stop interference of government in
ICBC issues and has agreed to set up another meeting with Nick Geer
President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of ICBC. During a meeting I had
with two ICBC representatives on February 2, 2004 I was asked " well if we
did implemented them, what, maybe a hundred people would use the program?"
It was at that point that it came to me that these fellows didn't have any
idea of just how many multiple motorcycle owners would use this program.
The next thing to come up was an "enforcement " issue; ICBC seems to feel
that police would have a problem around running the plate and being able to
match it to a bike.  I've asked several RCMP to put this out amongst other
officers to get their opinion and it doesn't t this point seem to be a
problem. The battle is on and we have Blair on our side which is a good
thing.  I will not give up until they (ICBC) realize the need for this and
once and for all agree to a Transferable Plate Program.

Adele Tompkins
Executive Director
B.C. Coalition of Motorcyclists

 

Since this article was written in July, nothing has changed except for the fact that Adele has a meeting with the new President & CEO of ICBC, Paul Taylor, and Blair Lekstrom our "Minister of Motorcycling" on November 15th to discuss this issue.  We will keep members updated as the information comes in.  Thanks for your interest.