Baillie says partner held phone in 216 Street video

Township of Langley councillor and Progress for Langley incumbent candidate Tim Baillie says his partner held the phone that filmed his drive on newly reopened 216 Street.

Baillie posted the video as a Facebook reel on the evening of Oct. 9. The caption says 216 Street, south of 24 Avenue, is now open.

The Township closed that stretch this summer to replace a culvert. A full closure ran from Aug. 4 to Sept. 25, followed by single-lane alternating traffic during work hours.

The short clip was filmed at night from inside a moving vehicle, looking out through the windshield. The frame shakes and shifts throughout. Baillie narrates as he drives over the new culvert.

Concerns about the video were raised on Reddit, in a post that shared it. Commenters there questioned whether Baillie was holding the phone himself while he drove.

Baillie's account

Baillie answered written questions from The Langley Union. He confirmed he was driving when the video was filmed on Friday night.

He said his partner held the phone from the seat behind him, close enough to pick up his voice. He said the front passenger seat was full of campaign materials.

He said she "had sole contact with the phone during the filming." He said he never touched or looked at the phone.

Baillie said he noticed the detour had been removed while driving home that evening. He said he then went home, asked his partner to come with him, and drove back to film the reopened road. He posted the video once he was home.

Baillie said the video followed B.C.'s rules on electronic devices. His campaign biography says he was part of the founding team behind Drop It And Drive, a distracted driving awareness program. He told The Langley Union he has been involved with it for almost 20 years.

He said Progress for Langley did not produce the video and, to his knowledge, did not post it.

Baillie described the concerns as a politically motivated attack in the final days of the campaign.

Baillie is seeking re-election with Progress for Langley, the slate led by Township Mayor Eric Woodward. General voting day is Oct. 17.

What B.C. law says

B.C.'s Motor Vehicle Act bars drivers from using hand-held electronic devices. Holding a device in a position where it can be used counts as use.

The rules apply to drivers, not passengers. The fine for a driver is $368, plus four penalty points.

The Langley Union also asked Langley RCMP how the law applies to drivers recording video, and whether police are aware of the video.

References

• Councillor Tim Baillie, Facebook reel on 216 Street
• Tim Baillie, written answers to The Langley Union
• Closures and Impacts, Township of Langley (216 Street culvert replacement, 16 to 24 Avenue)
• Tim Baillie profile, Progress for Langley
• Motor Vehicle Act, Part 3.1: Use of Electronic Devices While Driving
• Distracted driving legislation and resources, BCAA
• Tim Baillie 216 opening gaff, r/Langley