Road check in Clearwater yields drugs, cash, impaired drivers and more.
Southeast District Traffic Services wrapped up a successful two-day road check Thursday evening on Highway 5 in Clearwater. The multi agency check focused on impaired drivers, vehicle fitness, compliance under the Motor Vehicle Act and commercial vehicles but yielded much more.
Two cash seizures were made, for an estimated total of approximately $44,000. There were 10 drug seizures, two impaired drivers found and three prohibited drivers taken off the road.
The results included 10 drug seizures (marijuana, cocaine and unknown pills), two impaired drivers (one by drugs, one by alcohol), three 24 hr driving prohibitions by drugs, one three-day driving prohibition by alcohol, two cash seizures ($28,000, $16,000), 19 speeding tickets, 16 seat belts, 10 no Driver’s Licenses, seven no insurance or registration, three prohibited drivers, nine pre-trip/log book violation tickets, 45 vehicle defects, nine insecure loads, one subject arrested on an outstanding warrant, two hunters found with minor infractions, three driving prohibition notices served, nine loads of logs checked by Ministry of Forests, and 15 vehicles “Out of Service” (safety defects on vehicles that have to be repaired before proceeding).
Police were concerned with the number of drivers using marijuana or having it in their possession. It is still illegal to possess marijuana and can lead to an impaired charge if the driver is under the influence, as was seen in one driver.
The alcohol-impaired driver was operating a fully loaded commercial vehicle around midnight. Police were pleased to remove this potentially deadly combination from our roadway.
A large number of vehicles were taken off the road for safety defects. Several were allowed to fix them on site and proceed, but one was so bad it was towed. Police were surprised it traveled as far as it did.
It is always interesting to see what police come across. In one case a commercial driver had not completed his trip inspection report properly and was pulled to the side for a further check. One tire on his rig was completely bald. Further queries found he was wanted in a foreign country and Interpol was interested in him.
The check ran Sept. 21 for 16 hours and Sept. 22 for 12 hours. It included traffic units from around the region, Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) and Ministry of Forests.
Cpl. Chris Newel, road check coordinator, of the Clearwater Traffic Services said, “Our officers are dedicated to improving the safety of our roadways. This is one example of them working together with other agencies towards a common goal.”
Superintendent Randy Kolibaba, officer in charge of Southeast District Traffic Services, said, “The RCMP takes the responsibility of road safety very seriously and the Clearwater road check is an example of that. We must all do our parts to prevent the loss of life, whether it is on the roadways or in our communities. But no matter how much enforcement is employed, each and everyone of us must make a conscious effort to make our roadways safer by how each of us operate our own vehicles.”
A road-check in Golden on Highway 1 was run simultaneously.
– Clearwater RCMP
