Police nab speeders, suspected drunks and trucks in violation on 881, 858 and 55 checkstops.
This past weekend, RCMP, peace officers and commercial vehicle inspection officers conducted separate checkstops on highways 881, 858 and 55.
Police tell the Lac La Biche Post they stopped 200 vehicles, gave out $6,700 in fines, pulled half the commercial trucks stopped off the road, caught two suspected drunk drivers - one with a child in her car - and had to chase down a trucker who veered into the oncoming lane to get around the checkstop. They also clocked one motorist at 160 in a 100 zone.
According to an RCMP Press release from RCMP Const. Chris Clark, on March 27 and 28, 2014 RCMP conducted an enforcement campaign with provincial Commercial Vehicle Enforcement and Lac La Biche County Peace Officers. The blitz was conducted from 9pm till 7am on local highways.
In total officers conducted three checkstops that resulted in approximately 200 vehicles being stopped and checked. Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers conducted checks and inspections on several of the commercial vehicles and 50% of the vehicles had to make repairs, secure items or address other safety issues prior to being allowed to return to the roadway.
RCMP tell the POST that two log trucks were inspected and both had insecure logs. Both of the trailers had logs that were insecure and posed a risk of falling off while in motion. One tractor trailer unit was removed from the road way due to the operator not complying with having periods of rest and for operating while over the maximum allowed hours of driving. He was issued an appearance notice and must attend court to answer to the charge.
Officers also stopped located two vehicles that were being operated by an impaired driver. Both of these vehicles were being operated by females and they were subsequently arrested. One of the vehicles was being operated with the drivers nine year old child as a passenger in the vehicle.
Officers also located several vehicles traveling at excessive speeds with the highest speed being 160K/hr in a 100k/hr area. One driver of a tractor trailer was issued a violation ticket for traveling at 78k/hr past a police car with its emergency lights on after he failed to stop for officers at a checkstop. The tractor trailer unit passed other vehicles stopped at the checkstop by using the oncoming lane of traffic. The tractor trailer then drove past officers who were attempting to get the driver to stop creating a serious risk to the enforcement officers that were on the highway.
Police issued approximately $6,700 in violation tickets over the two nights.
These operations are part of an on going commitment by the Lac La Biche RCMP to bring enforcement agencies together and to work on reducing collisions and deaths on Alberta highways.
Const. Clark tells the POST the impaired charges both originated from checkstops on Hwy 55 and in the hamlet of La Biche.
