On August 25, 2025 Shawnigan Lake R.C.M.P. were called to a fatal collision where 12 year old Xavier Rasul-Jankovics had been rollerblading on the road. He was struck and killed by a passing 17 year old driver travelling at high speed. After striking the child the driver then collided with a utility pole, injuring both occupants of the car. This is the start of the story that resulted in the creation of Xavier's Law.
Result of Public Outcry: Xavier's Law
Private Member's Bill M226-2025 has been proposed by M.L.A. Dana Lajeunesse and has passed first reading in the legislature. The bill would prohibit a driver for 30 days for committing a reckless act.
There is no provision for the driver to appeal the prohibition.
What is a Reckless Act?
In plain English, reckless acts are defined as:
- Doing a wheelie
- Spinning the vehicle's tires
- Doing doughnuts
- Driving in the oncoming lane longer than needed to pass
- Driving with a person in the trunk
- Not being in the driver's seat while driving
- Driving 40 km/h + over the limit where the zone is less than 80 km/h
- Driving 50 km/h + over the limit where the zone is 80 km/h or more
- Driving faster than 150 km/h
- Preventing another driver from passing
- Brake checking another vehicle
- Playing chicken
- Making a left hand turn at an intersection by trying to beat oncoming traffic at a new green light
Vehicle Impoundment
Drivers who drive while prohibited under Xavier's Law will also be subject to the vehicle impoundment laws.
The Superintendent of Motor Vehicles
Xavier's Law would require the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles to consider the circumstances of any prohibition issued under this law. A further prohibition under section 93 Motor Vehicle Act might be warranted.
Private Member's Bills
Most private member's bills do not get passed into law in British Columbia.
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Comments
There is laws already in place that cover everything Xavier's law is aimed at.
What really bothers me is you are bringing in a law that says you are guilty before even being tried. It also give excessive power to the police and Superintendent of Motor Vehicles.
I also look back at just after the graduated licencing system was brought in to a kid probably 17 that lost his licence over playing his car radio too loud while sitting in a park with a bunch of friends. And this is what happens when individuals are given excessive power.
So you have a boy that was possibly speeding. Was there anything that may have distracted his attention? Where there any other laws that were being broken?
Was there any objects possibly jutting out onto the roadway that may have distracted the driver? Were the boys rollerblading on the left facing traffic? I'm sure rollerblading is the same as walking. Section 182 (2) of the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act. "If there is no sidewalk, a pedestrian using a highway must use only the extreme left side of the roadway or the shoulder of the highway, facing traffic approaching from the opposite direction".
This is a tragic accident that has affected more than one family. To the best of my knowledge as of November 30, 2025 there have been no charges laid. Why is a law being proposed when the final facts are not known?
As I say I feel sorry for both families but lets quit pre-judging guilt.
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Xavier's Law