British Columbia Registration Data

British Columbia Driver's Licences

Out of interest, we have added a small section dealing with the licencing of motorists in British Columbia. The possession of a driver's licence first become mandatory in 1925 following amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act.

In explaining the changes at that time, the President of the Automobile Club of BC advised that the $1.00 fee associated with the new licences was not intended as a money grab, but covered the cost of the program and would be "good for the life of the person to who it is issued, so that there will be no recurrence of the dollar fee."

The other objective of the new licences was "the curbing of reckless and dangerous driving on our streets and highways ... [as] an examination of police records will show that the vast majority of offenders against the motor act and traffic by-laws are habituals. Against 95 per cent of those who drive cars not a conviction has ever been entered. Included in the other five per cent will be found many with a strong of convictions 'as long as your arm'."

Interestingly, no driver's examination was required of drivers back in 1925, as it was considered that to examine every motorist would take months and prove costly to the government, but that "it may be after a time ... decided to issue no new licenses without holding examinations, but that situation has not yet arisen."

Of particular interest, however, is that the licensed driver was now seen to be "under continual examination from the day on which he receives his license and ... a licensed driver upon being convicted of an offence against the Motor Vehicles Act is required to surrender the white license card issued to him in the first place. In its place he is given a blue license card, the colour of which signifies to every officer who examines it that the holder has been convicted. If while holding a blue card he is convicted that blue card is taken up and a yellow one may be issued."

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While the image at left is for an "Application for Registration and Licence for a Motor-Vehicle other than a Motor-Cycle", its blue colour gives one cause to wonder if this particular applicant was not an offender against the Act?

The Act did, however, allow for anyone "who has been convicted once or twice and carries his blue or yellow license for a year or two without running foul of the law again may upon application to the Superintendent of Provincial Police obtain a return of the white license card."

1925 - 1929

1927

Issuing Statistics

1925:	unknown
1926:	unknown
1927:	unknown
1928:	unknown
1929:	unknown

1928

1929

1930 - 1939

1930

1931

1932

Issuing Statistics

1930:	unknown
1931:	unknown
1932:	unknown
1933:	unknown
1934:	unknown
1935:	unknown
1936:	unknown
1937:	unknown
1938:	unknown
1939:	unknown

1933

1935

1937

1938

1939

1940 - 1949

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Issuing Statistics

1940:	unknown
1941:	unknown
1942:	unknown
1943:	unknown
1944:	unknown
1945:	unknown
1946:	unknown
1947:	unknown
1948:	unknown
1949:	unknown