I hate this blitz style of traffic enforcement, because it doesn’t do anything to improve the driving habits of the average person. From a sociological view, this type of behaviour modification is a complete waste of time and resources. If you seriously lower the potential threshold for getting caught, it’s amazing how many people will just simply break the rules on a regular basis.

I can remember a time when traffic enforcement was an ever present visible reminder to pay heed to the rules of the road and drive in a reasonable manner. Those days are gone though and everyone realizes that the chances of getting caught for speeding, aggressive driving, etc., are now quite remote.

We seem to accept the explanation that fewer resources are now available for things like traffic enforcement, because of the prevalence of other “more serious” crimes and activity. If you believe the crime statistics though, the occurrence of most types of crime are falling. And what could be more important though than the safety of innocent travelers, especially the really tiny ones?

I believe that a return to a full contingent of officers for traffic control is vital to the health, safety, and piece of mind to a community. From that perspective, I believe the cost is more than justified to add members for this purpose if necessary. I believe this type of enforcement has a big impact on the reduction of other types of crimes as well.

BC: “time for some fines that will wake these people up….
lets start with $1000 instead of $100″

I disagree. All that will create is problems with people who don’t pay, and the associated costs with trying to find those people, send them to collections, court costs, etc. I doubt you’d ever get $1000 out of a driver with an “N” on their vehicle.

Yesterday morning a silver driving school car cut off the truck in front of me and then passed every vehicle on the highway. Must be the A.J. Foyt driving school.

I will have an N on my vehicle soon and I could certainly hand you 1000 bucks right now (although I think I’d rather just not break the rules). We aren’t all teenagers. 31 year old mom of two. With an L. I have epilepsy to thank for that. But I was kind of surprised how many adults were getting Ls and Ns when I did my test.

Anyways, bit of a tangent. Carry on. And sorry about my slow driving down Peden Hill. It appears to make a lot of people crazy.

Only if your in the left lane.

“I believe that a return to a full contingent of officers for traffic control is vital to the health, safety, and piece of mind to a community. From that perspective, I believe the cost is more than justified to add members for this purpose if necessary. I believe this type of enforcement has a big impact on the reduction of other types of crimes as well”

My jaw almost hit the ground when we moved out here and saw City of Ottawa police directing traffic in construction sites. Two observations:

1) They actually have the traffic under control in those situations and things flow smoothly;
2) There is virtually no stupidity being displayed by drivers as they navigate through construction zones.

I do understand the re-allocation of resources to more “serious” areas, but I tend to agree that a minimum prescence of officers involved in traffic related duties can go a long ways to keeping people in check and impacting other areas of policing in a positive manner.

Poor people have to way the odds, food or brand new fancy tires and new set of ball joints on their old wreck of a car. A fine really helps them out.

The deterrent is the old point system. Get to many points and you lose your license for awhile.

The City received $1,676,000.00 in fine money from the RCMP ticketing for 2012, up considerably from 2011. This money goes into general revenue, along with the $2,631,000.00 that they received from gambling, and of course the $2,911,000.00 per year that they receive from the gas tax.

BCRacer: I couldn’t agree with you more!:)

Sine Nomine: You hate this type of enforcement??? This enforcement took quite a few vehicles off the road which had no business being there in the first place and second they must have been a danger in one way or another to get removed. I LIKE it! People might wake up a bit!

“JohnnyBelt what do you suggest then,
dropping the fines altogether?
i am sure they can afford that then….
but what would be the deterant?
what we got sure isn’t doing it….”

There will always be idiots on the roads regardless of the fines. Why not make it $10,000 per infraction if fines work so well? Maybe $100,000? Again, you’re just moving the costs into the justice system if you increase the fines substantially.

Anyway, back to your $1,000 figure, virtually every ticket would be challenged and clog up the court system worse than it already is.

Those that can pay always say we should just raise the fines. Thats crap and its just another form of regressive taxation.

IMO fines should be time based. Get caught speeding and you get double the fine in cash or 5 community hours. If the uppty uppty can afford to pay lots in fines let them have at it. For the rest of us why not some time picking up garbage for the community, or working a soup kitchen, or something?

If its all just based on fines and money than its just a get out of jail free card for the rich.

BC: “time for some fines that will wake these people up….
lets start with $1000 instead of $100″

Bang on! If they don’t cough up the fine within 14 days ICBC will be notified and their drivers licence will be confiscated.

If they are caught driving without a licence the vehicle will be permanently impounded, a one year driving prohibition automatically applied.

Enough already with the excuses that the fines will be impossible to collect and the justice system clogged up! Clogged up with what?

Here is why:

ICBC has the power to revoke licenses, revoke insurance policies and we have the RCMP to enforce the law.

That should be enough.

PG: “If they are caught driving without a licence the vehicle will be permanently impounded”

What if they take a friend’s or family member’s vehicle without asking? That would be a bummer, eh?

The punishment is irrelevant if you believe the chances of getting caught are remote. One only has to look South to realize that harsher punishment does nothing to deter criminal behaviour, even the death penalty doesn’t deter capital crimes. If there were a constant police presence on the roads, a lot of these vehicles and drivers would have already been off the road and many others as well.

I don’t consider the confiscation of drivers licences or vehicles a harsh punishment. There are taxis and buses and bicycles to use for transportation.

Taking a friend’s or family member’s vehicle without asking (!) is stealing.

If there were a constant police presence on the road (more tickets) the courts would be overwhelmed, eh JB?

PG: “I don’t consider the confiscation of drivers licences or vehicles a harsh punishment.”

I guess that largely depends on the infraction. Dangerous driving with excessive speeding, sure… driving 10 km/h over the limit, not so much.

The highest number of infractions was 40 of a total of 90

– Notice & Order violations to have vehicle repaired and/or inspected

Why would that be? Not enough money to drive a safe car? Not enough money to repair an unsafe car?

Plus 3 are bad enough to remove from the road immediately?

I do not think a single person on here wrote about that. Why not? Having unsafe cars on the road should be a major concern.
====================================

Next highest = 24 – Various Drivers Licence infractions.

And this means what? Failure to renew in time? Driving without corrective lenses?

Between the idiot drivers and the potholes, this town is not very enjoyable to drive in. Take your time, leave 5 minutes earlier and get there safely.

Set up at any double solid line and they will catch lots of idiots.

Posted by: JohnnyBelt on October 28 2013 8:22 PM
PG: “If they are caught driving without a licence the vehicle will be permanently impounded”

What if they take a friend’s or family member’s vehicle without asking? That would be a bummer, eh?

___________________________________________

I guess if the owner of said vehicle wasn’t willing to own up to lending it out and if it was taken without permission then it would be theft and should be charged criminally.

Taking without asking is theft, you can spin it however you want but it holds true.

Collect more traffic fines (if people refuse to pay up ICBC can refuse to renew their insurance and plates) and thereby bring in more revenue for the city to fix more potholes.

Problem solved. Most of all enforce the laws and don’t pretend that circumstances are making it impossible to take action.

sure, lets make the punishment so severe that people will run and not stop at all. And cancel insurance of offenders so more people will be driving around without it. Kinda like the stiffer drinking and driving consequences, look how many people dont stop at an accident now if they have had a few. Just call in the next day or hopefully dont get caught at all…

Well I for one would like to see the RCMP follow the rules of the road! They are always speeding up and down the hart. I’m kind of under the impression that they can only speed if they are on a call not going to timmies. What ever happened to the rule of law? RCMP should be setting a good example, when they can’t even follow a speed limit how can we trust them with, how can we take them seriously?

interceptor: “sure, lets make the punishment so severe that people will run and not stop at all. And cancel insurance of offenders so more people will be driving around without it.”

That’s my take on it as well. I’m all for stiff fines and penalties for major infractions, but I don’t think you’re doing anyone any favours by throwing the book at them for minor stuff.

BC: “doing stuff while driving that can get someone killed isn’t minor…”

Unfortunately, it’s not a black and white world. If you think it’s reasonable and fair that someone gets a $1000 ticket for driving 1 km/h over the speed limit, we’ll have to agree to disagree.