Trent Cherpin learned a valuable lesson about safety when he recently rented a minivan.
Cherpin rented the vehicle from Zoom Rentals in Calgary.
After his wife and children drove the minivan from Calgary to Saskatchewan, Cherpin made a startling discovery in the back seat. A seatbelt was held together with what appeared to be a piece of wire coat hanger.
“It made me quite angry that they rented it that way,” says Cherpin.
Cherpin replaced the wire with a sturdy bolt for the drive back to Calgary.
When he returned the vehicle to Zoom Rentals, Cherpin says the manager felt the wire was and acceptable fix and even claimed to have an inspection certificate from Alberta Transportation proving the car was safe. Cherpin asked to see the certificate but says he never heard from Zoom again.
CTV’s Lea Williams-Doherty wanted to get to the bottom of the issue but when she went looking for Zoom Rentals she found out the company closed down for unknown reasons.
Williams-Doherty then contacted Alberta Transportation to find out what sort of recourse there was for others who may find themselves in a similar situation. Alberta Transportation referred Williams-Doherty to the Calgary Police Service who then referred her back to the province.
Williams-Doherty then contacted the RCMP who finally acknowledged it would investigate a complaint like Cherpins.
The RCMP says the vehicle equipment regulations within the Traffic Safety Act apply to seatbelt infractions. Both RCMP and municipal police services enforce that law.
