Supplied Photo
Removing unsafe vehicles and vehicles towing recreational items improperly from Saskatchewan roads was a focus last week as police officers conducted a dedicated traffic stop near Chamberlain, Sask. – this and identifying drivers impaired by drugs and/or alcohol.
Between 3,500-4,000 vehicles were checked between Tuesday July 12 and Thursday July 14 by Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan (CTSS).
“Its summertime, people are traveling more and our focus continues to be on road safety,” said Cpl. Ray Bouchard of CTSS.
“We’re here to help make sure the roads that everyone travels on are safe, not ruin travel plans – which is why a great number of safety violations identified were easily rectified through driver education or adjustments to towing equipment. There were a large number of drivers inexperienced in towing trailers or campers. Many drivers had someone else connect their trailer or camper to their towing vehicle and were completely unaware of how to do it themselves, regardless if it was correct or not.”
Here’s what CTSS police officers found/issued:
- 17 suspensions for cannabis use
- 1 suspension for cocaine use – police located the driver around 6:00 p.m.
- 4 roadside driving suspensions for alcohol
- 37 vehicle inspections were issued
- 4 people were arrested in relation to outstanding warrants
- 8 suspended drivers were stopped
- 22 vehicles were impounded as a result of impaired driving
- 4 child car seats were given out via an SGI grant after 44 child car seat inspections were completed
- 85 vehicles were taken out of service for Vehicle Equipment Regulations violations
- 918 warnings were issued
- 104 tickets were issued for various other offences
*A note these violations and tickets were identified/issued between 1 – 4 p.m. Tuesday and 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Wednesday/Thursday.
“Our feedback from the general public was that they were happy to see us there. And we were happy to be there, helping keep the roads that everyone drives on safe,” added Cpl. Bouchard.
A total of 19 police officers from Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan units took part and were from Rosetown, Maidstone, Martensville, Lanigan, Meadow Lake, Melfort, Swift Current RCMP Detachments and Moose Jaw Police Service.