The Vancouver city councillor married to the NDP’s Minister of State for Community Safety appeared to be driving while speaking to a scheduled committee meeting on Dec. 11.
When it was Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung’s turn to comment on a motion proposing a Japanese Canadian Interpretive Centre at Hastings Park, she was behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Bob Mackin
Instead of being in the council chamber, Kirby-Yung was connected to the meeting via the Webex video conference platform.
Kirby-Yung conducted shoulder checks, looked ahead and looked down at the smartphone camera. At the 40-second mark, in the lower left corner, the background changed as if the vehicle was in motion. The lighting inside the also vehicle changed. At the 47-second mark, Kirby-Yung turned the steering wheel, did more shoulder checks and looked again at the smartphone camera.
Kirby-Yung has not responded for comment.
Distracted driving is against the Motor Vehicle Act, worth a $369 fine plus four penalty points. The website for B.C.’s vehicle insurer and driving regulator ICBC states that a driver is 3.6 times more likely to crash while using a mobile phone.
“Anything that takes your attention away from driving can contribute to distracted driving. Even when stopped, checking an electronic device affects your focus,” according to ICBC.
Kirby-Yung’s husband is Terry Yung, a retired senior Vancouver Police officer and the new Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services in Premier David Eby’s NDP government.
Kirby-Yung is no stranger to controversy. At the Oct. 23 Standing Committee on Policy and Strategic Priorities meeting, she accused fellow ABC Vancouver party Coun. Rebecca Bligh of speaking out of order.
“This is not the wild west of fucking procedure,” Kirby-Yung exclaimed.
After returning from a recess, Kirby-Yung apologized.
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