Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 20/01) - The owner of a Yellowknife security company is going to fight for the right to carry flashing lights on the top of his two trucks.

Dave Beckwith: plans to fight fine - Phil Duffy/NNSL photo

Dave Beckwith, owner of Centurion Security, said he is fighting a Motor Vehicle Act charge and a fine of $58 in justice of the peace court on Aug. 2 for his right to drive with flashing lights on top of his truck.

RCMP charged Beckwith on July 8 after a year of failed requests the company take flashing lights off their trucks because they were breaking the law.

Under Section 132 of the Motor Vehicle Act, flashing lights can only be used with proper authorization.

Police gave the company a week to remove the lights. The company refused and disassembled the bulbs.

"According to the Motor Vehicle Act, I cannot be equipped with rotating and flashing lights, so we disconnected them," said Beckwith.

Sgt. Terry Scott said the fact the lights are still on the truck makes it illegal.

Things for the company took a turn for the worse on Wednesday when one of the company's two trucks was towed and stripped of its plates for having its vehicles equipped with flashing lights. At the request of the RCMP, city bylaw officers pulled over the Centurion truck in front of Javaroma on Franklin Ave. on Wednesday. Police arrived and impounded the truck.

"He got exactly what he asked for," said Scott about the decision to impound the truck. According to Scott, this is not the first time police have confronted the company over use of their lights.

He said they've been spinning wheels on this problem for a year.

"There's a history here," said Scott. "He's been warned for a long time that those lights are illegal."

Beckwith said he's just trying to project an image of professionalism.

"I'm not backing down on this," said Beckwith.

"We want to show the proper authority."

Scott said the company can have its truck back if it removes the lights.

The company's second truck could face a similar fate unless the lights are removed as well, he said.