Arrested wedding guest took rideshare back to B.C. venue to drive home drunk, police say

A man police escorted home from a wedding after he tried to drive drunk returned to the venue, got in his car and sped past police headquarters while still impa

Driving drunk after a wedding is never a good idea – but doing so when you’ve already been escorted home by police is downright “astonishing.”

That’s the description from police in B.C.’s Lower Mainland who dealt with that very situation over the weekend.

Authorities said the wild series of events began around 1:45 a.m. Sunday, as a wedding was wrapping up in downtown Port Moody.

According to the Port Moody Police Department, an intoxicated guest became agitated after Good Samaritans took away his car keys to prevent him from driving off, resulting in a fracas that prompted a 911 call to the venue.

Officers arrested the man for breach of peace and escorted him all the way home to Vancouver, where he was expected to remain until he could sober up and retrieve his vehicle.

That did not happen, said Const. Sam Zacharias.

“He was driven 20 kilometres home to sleep this one off, but he unfortunately took the effort to order a rideshare back to Port Moody, get into his vehicle and drive,” Zacharias told CTV News.

Authorities said they caught the man around 3:50 a.m. because he was speeding at more than double the posted limit – directly in front of the Port Moody police headquarters, no less.

The man was clocked going 123 km/h in a 50 km/h zone on St. Johns Street, according to police.

Zacharias said the 29-year-old driver was arrested and kept in custody until he could sober up. The man was then issued a 90-day driving ban, his vehicle was impounded, and he faces Motor Vehicle Act charges.

Authorities also filed a high-risk driving report with Road Safety B.C. in pursuit of stiffer punishments, which could include an extended driving prohibition and higher fines.

“This driver was given multiple opportunities to do the right thing,” Zacharias said. “This event was concerning and unsettling. Thankfully, no one was injured.”