It took officers eight and a half hours on Nov. 15 to issue 37 violation tickets for distracted driving, five for not wearing a seatbelt, nab one prohibited driver, one for panhandling and dole out two written warnings.
It was all a part of a North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP distracted driving project using plainclothes officers to identify offenders in six different locations throughout the detachment’s service area.
“As I was a plainclothes spotter, I had the chance to speak to many members of the motoring public,” said Cpl. Gelderblom. “Their response was overwhelmingly positive, they were very happy to see us dealing with distracted drivers, and several insisted on shaking my hand. About a dozen people tried to give me money, and I had the chance to speak to them about the realities/consequences of panhandling.”
North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Cari Lougheed said in a media release that distracted driving is a priority of police and both local and provincial governments and more crackdowns are on the way.
Lougheed noted the fine for distracted driving under the Motor Vehicle Act is $368 and four points on your licence.
“Save your money, safe a life…leave your cell phone alone,” she said.
