Disturbing Results in Valemount Check Stops
Valemount, B.C.- Heading out on a long weekend, you might want to think about some of the other drivers on the road.
A road safety check to emphasize Road Safety Week turned out some surprising results this week.
North District Integrated Road Safety Unit from Prince George and Regional Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement officers had gathered in Valemount for the campaign.
An item of grave concern to the officers present was the number of drug impaired drivers who were apprehended and subjected to Drug Recognition Expert ( DRE ) evaluations.
( at right, Officer stands by the nearly 13 pounds of marijuana seized – photo courtesy RCMP)
Of the six that were detected, one was a commercial truck driver who was stopped at 6:15 in the morning.
Some alcohol related statistics were: (7) Seven 24 hour suspensions, One twelve hour suspension, one 3 day Immediate Roadside Prohibition ( IRP ), and three 90 day IRRP’s.
There were a large number of commercial and private vehicles inspected for mechanical fitness and of those inspected 6 commercial vehicles were taken out of service.
Detected as a result of the road check were several Criminal Code Offences leading to charges for both possession of a controlled substance and Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking ( PPT ). Contraband seized included marijuana cocaine and steroids.
A strategy of the road check was to have other officers roaming the highway near the check stop. These officers issued 115 speeding tickets and encountered at least 5 excessive
speeders. This is when an individual is travelling more than 40KPH over the posted speed limit. The offender is fined and the vehicle they are operating is impounded for 7 days.
Officers also encountered 6 prohibited drivers, 7 individuals without driver’s licenses and numerous other driving infractions.
Comments
Not overly surprising. I drove back from Jasper last Sunday, and the difference in traffic after Tete Jaune is pretty shocking (especially the semi traffic). Seems like the speed of the average vehicle shoots up about 15-25 kph as soon as you’re past the scales going east. I’m surprised the RCMP don’t have a presence along the route a lot more often – the fines alone would make it worth it I would think.
Very scary! I suspect it is the same on the highway going south, the mostly (about 95% not four lane) two lane (one and only!) highway where one becomes an obstacle and target of merciless tail gating when driving 15km/h over the speed limit!
Our society sure has lost its way!
When encountering a tailgater either use a camera or cellphone camera and take a picture. Then you have the proof when you call the RCMP.
If you do take a photo of a tailgater, DO NOT take your eyes of the road ahead of you!
Actually the tailgater practices something which has the legal definition of coercion! It is a criminal act. He/she attempts to bully the other driver into speeding up or pulling over to allow him/her to get by! Usually I look for a wide enough and safe shoulder, put on my turn signal and start to slow down while pulling over. That usually does the trick. I have done this even in town many times. It works.
How many were Albertans? They have a real hate for cops in the border towns of BC. They feel they get picked on for no reason. No reason? Ya right.
There is no reason to be tailgated, it is total your fault if this is happening. Pull over and let him go by. Do not be a jerk and speed up in the passing spots.
If someone is tailgating me it’s my fault?
If I smoke a fatty will that help me see your point of view?
Nothing says welcome to BC like this at the boarder. I think its uncalled for. It has a huge impact on potential tourism as the word of mouth spreads.
Imagine getting a 7 day impoundment and having ones vehicle towed back to PG, and one is from god knows where in Alberta. Logistical nightmare for sure. Salt on the wound would be if it was one of those officers that ‘can tell’ if someone is more than tired through a pseudo evaluation short on facts and long on assumption.
Its the RCMP acting like a highway robber getting people in the middle of nowhere where they are most vulnerable.
I’m sure a little police presence getting the prolific offenders would work just as well as a deterrent, as nailing 115 people for speeding with zero tolerance.
What kind of idiot calls the RCMP because of a tailgater? Fabulous use of police man hours!
Eagleone: Would you rather have intoxicated drivers and unsafe vehicles driving down the road?
Even if you are tired that is still an impairment to your driving.
If being tired is an impairment to your driving the RCMP should be sitting outside the hospital giving Immediate Roadside Suspensions to the resident doctors who work double shifts.
“There is no reason to be tailgated, it is total your fault if this is happening.”
You mean totally? Like in totally out for lunch?
Mercenary that would be great if it was really what it is all about. With a 115 speeding tickets in one day its more about intimidation and abuse of reason. Maybe try to fill up the hotels in Valemount more than anything.
I had a run in with them in Valemount about 15 years ago. I had a vehicle break down in Canmore with a fuel pump problem… spent the whole day figuring out what was wrong with my truck, and then getting the part I needed to continue my journey.
When I got to the Tete Jaune scales at about midnight they had a lone officer from Valemount conducting a border road block waving cars through, and then decided to wave me to the side. He said I looked under the influence, so asked me to get out of the truck and took my keys. Made me do the stupid human tricks and tried to say I failed the 60-second (on one foot with eyes closed) test, but I checked my watch and no way I failed. He was being ignorant and had no basis for his accusations. The cop put me in handcuffs in the back of his car and spent no less than an hour searching my truck for any evidence of drugs or alcohol.
Nothing didn’t find a thing, because I had nothing, and I was not under the influence of anything. I had a long day and was short on patience and just wanted to get home without being accosted on the side of the highway in the middle of nowhere.
Apparently the officer a new recruit maybe 19-years old was a new Drug Recognition Expert. He claimed my behavior was erratic and rightly so as I was pissed right off (as anyone would be in that situation) at having my rights violated like that for absolutely no reason, having no reason what so ever to even have me pulled over.
In the end he had no breathalyzer, and nothing but his opinion when he issued me a 24hour road side suspension, so in his word I could cool down a bit. I had no food, and no access to food, and only enough gas to make it back to PG 4-hours drive away. I was furious about the abuse of power.
In the end a 24-hour can not be removed from ones drivers abstract, and one does not get a day in court to plead their case. It is solely the erroneous midnight opinion of the officer at the road side in the middle of nowhere… where not even a second opinion from another officer, or a means to prove oneself innocent is afforded. Its total crap and cost me a lot of work over the next 5-years until that was off my license.
The RCMP often abuse their power based on their own personal prejudices and they get away with it. Judge, jury, and executioner, is far to much power to put in the hands of anyone IMO. Especially so in a remote place like the BC/Alberta border crossing.
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