Two Mercedes drivers fined for taking photos on North Vancouver’s new pedestrian bridge

Two drivers were each fined $600 after taking their Mercedes sedans onto North Vancouver’s new Crosscut Bridge to take photos, police said.

North Vancouver RCMP responded at about 9 p.m. on Sept. 17 to reports of two black Mercedes sedans in a restricted area of the bridge. Officers found the vehicles had entered through a bike-only lane and bypassed barriers at the bridge entrances intended to prevent vehicle access.

The bridge, which crosses Highway 1 and opened to the public in August, is for pedestrians and cyclists only. The drivers, both men in their 20s, told police they intended to replicate photos they allegedly saw on social media showing other vehicles on the bridge.

Police issued both drivers violation tickets for driving without due care, failing to obey restricted access and tinted windows. The city said no damage was reported.

A City of North Vancouver spokesperson said concrete barriers have been placed temporarily to keep pedestrian and cyclist access safe until permanent bollards are installed. The bollards, ordered before the incident, are expected to be installed in November. The bridge is designed to safely carry authorized maintenance vehicles, the spokesperson said.