GM has had some huge problems lately. You see, a small design flaw in the ignition switch used in some of their cars can cause the key to turn off while driving. It’s quite rare but the consequences are significant. A handful of people died in accidents due to this defective device.
It was a mistake and it was fairly innocent in the sense that when they designed and manufactured the switch they didn’t anticipate the problem despite turning their minds to ensuring it was safe. The design flaw in itself appears innocent enough. It was what happened later – the way they responded to the defective device, that GM and our governments should be ashamed of.
You see, GM recognized the problem. They figured early on that this was a design/manufacturing defect that rendered their product unsafe to use. They corrected the defective device in later models in what appears to have been a coverup. They didn’t tell anyone. The governments in the US and Canada figured it out and they did nothing of consequence for some time.
Then more people died and families of people who were injured or died started looking into it themselves. There wasn’t a lot of evidence, but it was clear in one or two memos that GM knew of the problem and did nothing to address it. The cost of the replacement part was pennies. Ultimately GM recalled all the vehicles to fix the problem.
Which brings us to the role of government when they are aware of a design/manufacturing problem with a device that can be the source of great harm. A reasonable person knowing what the government knew at the time they knew it would expect the government to take immediate action. Instead it appears that the government was interested in protecting the reputation of the company and their regulatory agency rather than protecting the public.
Defective device and the RCMP
Which now brings us to the RCMP. The RCMP are aware that there is a significant problem with a large number of the roadside breathalyzers used in BC to issue IRPs. The memos are there speaking of the problem. It is referred to as a “known issue.” It’s been known for years now.
They’ve never made it public. They’ve never disclosed it to people who received IRPs. They have continued to use these breathalyzers with this problem to this day despite the problem. It gives the impression that the RCMP has been more concerned about protecting the public image of the police than protecting the integrity of the justice system.
We figured it out and we’ve been taking the steps we can to address it. Now the writing is on the wall. It’s all going to become public in the coming months.
The RCMP’s hope is to have replaced all of the devices with a newer model of breathalyzer before the shit hits the fan. They figure that this will protect their turf – it will keep some people from questioning the IRP scheme.
We will see how effective they are with their spin campaign.
Government spin versus the public interest
Working with the RCMP, RoadSafetyBC is implementing a new rule to try to keep people who were wrongly punished from getting a remedy.
They know that when the news comes out, many thousands of people may correctly conclude that they were wrongly punished with an IRP. In advance of this wave, they’re trying to shut people down by refusing to allow them to even apply for a request for a hearing beyond the 7-day window to apply for review of an IRP.
Is this Government working in the public interest, or is it merely an attempt to protect their turf?
We can think of no reason to create a new rule in this fashion at this time except as an attempt to impede people in getting a lawful remedy for a wrongly issued IRP.
Don’t expect the Government to be reasonable when they are responsible for a defective device that harms the public.