A weekend traffic safety blitz in the Lloydminster area has left more than 200 drivers facing steep fines and resulted in seven licence suspensions.
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Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services, alongside the Prince Albert Police Service, cracked down on dangerous driving behaviours between June 5 and June 7.
Operating under Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan (CTSS), six officers from units in Regina, Moose Jaw, Melfort, Saskatoon and Prince Albert coordinated the enforcement initiative.
Police stopped 429 vehicles on roads east of Highway 17 in Lloydminster, as well as in nearby Paradise Hill and St. Walburg. Most drivers stopped were tested for alcohol or drug impairment.
The three-day initiative resulted in 220 tickets, including:
- 97 for cellphone use while driving;
- 64 for speeding; and
- 59 for failing to wear, or improperly wearing, a seatbelt.
Officers also issued 251 warnings and issued seven roadside suspensions—two for alcohol consumption and five for drug consumption.
“We make a point of travelling to all corners of Saskatchewan to help keep everyone safe on the roads,” Insp. Lee Knelsen, operations officer for Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services, said in a release.
“Whether on highways or in smaller communities, our focus is on reminding drivers to make safe choices behind the wheel. Put the phone down, slow down, buckle up and drive sober.”
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