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Daytime Running Lights
Daytime running lights have been mandatory for vehicles in Canada since 1990. It appears many drivers and vehicle dealers are not aware of this requirement. Having driven thousands of kilometers over the last 40 years I know that DRL can help prevent accidents particularly on poor light and rainy conditions.
There appears to be 0 enforcement of this law that can result in a $2000 federal fine. One senior police officer I questioned about the lack of enforcement stated that since the resulting fines would not go back to the comunity there is little incentive to pursue the issue. I notice about 3-5 % of vehicles I see daily do not comply, particularly european imports and dodge trucks.
If the government felt it was important enough to pass this law it should be worth enforcing. Perhaps an awareness campain could save a few lives and reduce accidents.
The federal government mandates how vehicles must be built and the provincial governments are left to regulate how those vehicles must continue to conform to the federal rules. BC drivers cannot be charged under federal laws for operating a vehicle without daytime running lights. That offence is found in the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations:
General lighting requirements
4.02(2) A vehicle on a highway must be equipped with lamps equivalent to those provided by the original manufacturer in accordance with the requirements that applied under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada), or a predecessor to that Act, at the time of vehicle manufacture.
The penalty for failure to comply may involve being issued a violation ticket with a ticketed amount of $109.
The whole point of DRL is as you say, to prevent collisions, and studies have shown that they do this. I have also seen the opinion expressed that vehicles without them will be a greater risk of not being seen than they would be in a world without DRL.
Zero enforcement? Not so, speaking from my own point of view. I used to do it.
Your officer friend is incorrect. Penalties from this, like any other traffic ticket, are currently redistributed to the communities by the provincial government.
Imports must have DRL installed before they can be licensed in BC.
Regardless of the law, people will do what they want to in some cases. Reasons that I have heard for disconnection of DRL ranged from "I don't like them" to "They cost more fuel to run and I don't want to pollute."