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The British Columbia government is reminding teenagers and parents about new regulations on the party bus industry.
New operator requirements – which affect all bookings made after April 1 – include having a safety monitor on board when minors are among the passengers.
The operator is also required to ensure the monitor has first-aid training, including knowledge of how to administer opioid-negating drug Naloxone.
"Grad season should be a memorable time for teens to celebrate their accomplishments with friends and family,” Claire Trevena, minister of transportation and infrastructure, said.
“Unfortunately, this industry has been largely unregulated for too long.”
She added: "We never want to see avoidable incidents destroying lives. That's why we're bringing in new rules that will further strengthen the party bus industry and help ensure our kids arrive home safely at the end of the night."
Supporting the changes is Danielle Raymond, sister of Shannon Raymond.
Shannon died after taking ecstasy while on a party bus in Maple Ridge in 2008.
"We have fought hard for these regulation changes, but we didn't do it alone,” Danielle said.
“We have so much gratitude to George Heyman, Claire Trevena and many others.”
She added: "All we wanted was for people, especially teens, to be safe. Had someone been looking out for Shannon that night, we think she'd still be here. Her death was so senseless and preventable. We carry her loss with us, and we are going to miss her every day for the rest of our lives. We are thankful for these regulations, which will help improve safety for teenagers who travel on a party bus."
Other regulations passed by the provincial government include higher fines for party buses that do not display valid decals proving they have passed a safety inspection.
They were increased from $81 to $318.
Operators were also made to obtain consent forms from parents or guardians.
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