More people are planning ahead when it comes to getting home safe from holiday functions, and it’s a good sign, says St. Albert RCMP.
So far this month RCMP has executed two Checkstops at different locations around the city, checking a total of 1,250 vehicles and charging one impaired driver.
The first Checkstop of the season kicked off on Dec. 5. Officers pulled over 500 vehicles and administered eight road sign screening tests for alcohol impairment. All the drivers passed.
“A lot of vehicle checks and a lot of sober drivers. It’s a good thing,” says Const. Jaden Courtney with St. Albert Traffic Services.
The Checkstop netted two roadside suspensions and 17 tickets for violations including no proof of insurance or vehicle registration.
A Checkstop last Saturday kept officers even busier.
Of the 750 vehicles checked, officers charged one impaired driver, three roadside suspensions, two warrant executions and 18 tickets.
“We’ve noticed a lot of designated drivers, a lot of drivers who haven’t been drinking or had their glass of wine with dinner,” says Courtney.
“We know that with education, extra enforcement and with the Checkstop program, around holiday time people are planning ahead.”
“In other areas around St. Albert it’s a different story.”
By this time last year, St. Albert RCMP officers had laid five impaired driving charges and one roadside suspension. Since the beginning of December, they have laid three impaired charges and five roadside suspensions.
The numbers may reflect the extra police resources at work, says Courtney.
This is the first year St. Albert RCMP has been part of the Enhanced Alberta Checkstop Program – where Checkstops are done in conjunction with the Alberta Sheriff’s Department with funding from the province.
Municipal enforcement and Edmonton Police Services officers also lent a hand.
“It’s truly a joint effort,” says Courtney. “We just can’t always do it on our own.”
Dec. 21 through 26, 2012 resulted in the most vehicle collisions (3,319) and highest number of injuries (312) compared to other holidays, says the most recent traffic collision statistics from Alberta Transportation.
RCMP will continue to hold Checkstops throughout the remainder of the holiday season.
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