Enhanced road patrols in Iqaluit part of RCMP safety week campaign
Canada Road Safety Week targets ‘impaired or dangerous’ drivers
RCMP arrested two individuals for drug trafficking and drug possession on March 2, police said in a news release Tuesday. (File photo)
RCMP have been performing “enhanced patrols” on Iqaluit roads as part of a national safety campaign.
Canada Road Safety Week started May 17 and runs until May 23.
The campaign targets “impaired or dangerous” drivers, according to a news release.
“This [year’s] campaign offers as a strong reminder that the decisions drivers make not only affect them, but their passengers, other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians with whom they share the road,” the release stated.
“Police encourage motorists to think when they get behind the wheel; that means, buckling seat belts, driving sober, staying within speed limits, paying attention and avoiding distractions, especially the use of cell phones – talking or texting – while driving.”
RCMP encouraged the public to report any dangerous drivers.
Last fall, Iqaluit RCMP conducted similar checks around Thanksgiving weekend.
According to Statistics Canada’s most recent information, from 2019, Nunavut had Canada’s third-highest rate of police-reported impaired driving incidents, with 1,640 per 100,000 population. Only Northwest Territories and Yukon had higher rates. The national average rate per 100,000 population that year was 194.
“Nunavut had Canada’s third-highest rate of police-reported impaired driving incidents, with 1,640 per 100,000 population. The national average rate per 100,000 population that year was 194.”
Nunavut’s incidence for DUI is almost 10X higher than the rest of Canada!? Too bad the sentencing for impaired driving up here is usually a slap on the wrist, with or without the Gladue principle being applied. Anywhere else in Canada you’re looking at a very serious indictable offense that will likely result in serious fines and even jailtime. Maybe if the crown was a little more serious with DUI’s in the north, these numbers would drop.
Announcing enhanced patrols and vehicle checks is just a waste of time. Be on the roads every day and check the traffic when bar or restaurant customers leave the establishments and stop them.
Drinking, insurance, registration, vehicle condition, cell phone usage should be all verified, but not announced prior. Do it regular and involve the bylaw as well.
That would actually be entrapment. The RCMP can’t wait at bars and pull over patrons as they leave, as effective as that would be. They would need to make up a rational excuse as to why they pulled you over that isn’t “they left a bar” (IE: broken tail light)