Traffic blitz nails hundreds of drivers
On the B.C. Day long weekend, RCMP attended two fatal crashes resulting in three deaths. On average, the B.C. Day long weekend sees five people lose their lives on local highways, said RCMP Sgt. Pierre Lemaitre, of E Division traffic services, based in Langley.
In a four-day policing blitz, from Aug. 3 to Aug. 6, hundreds of tickets were handed out:
• 42 drivers lost their license for 90 days after failing a breathalyzer;
• 407 people weren’t wearing, seatbelts;
• 1,897 were given speeding tickets;
•173 charged for using a cellphone;
• 70 pulled over for driving a defective vehicle;
• 24 charges of driving without due care;
• 102 charges of driving contrary to novice restrictions;
•15 charges of not wearing a helmet while driving a motorcycle; and
• 36 charged for not having insurance.
On the long weekend, the Greater Vancouver Integrated Road Safety Unit worked con the Sea-To-Sky Project (Highway 99) in order to enhance road safety there.
Sgt. Marc Alexander pointed out that many motorists on the highway waved at officers and gave them a thumbs up while they were dealing with violators.
Alexander said he had some interesting interactions with motorists over the long weekend.
When stopped for excessive speeding, the passenger of one vehicle hugged the officer. She said, ‘I was sitting in the passenger seat being quiet but saying to myself, “He is going to get a ticket.” I am glad he did. Maybe he will slow down now.”
She was perfectly happy to finish her ride in the tow truck, said Alexender.
Three class 7 drivers had their vehicles impounded. Two were not displaying the N sign. One of these was driving contrary to Licence Restriction as well, due to the number of occupants in the vehicle.
The drivers of more than one high-end vehicle asked the officer to write “any” ticket they wanted to, but not to impound the vehicle.
Several drivers were stopped for excessive speeding, and their vehicles were impounded.
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