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RCMP presents statistics to Elkford council, says impaired driving numbers ‘high’

In 2021, there were 78 impaired driving enforcements in the Elk Valley
28188964_web1_RCMP_Stock_McLachlan_New_Sept25-2020-PGM_1150
Stock photo.

Elk Valley RCMP Cpl. Jana Brown presented 2021 Q3 policing statistics to the District of Elkford council on Monday (Feb. 14), and highlighted impaired driving enforcement numbers in the valley as being high.

According to Brown’s report, in 2021, the Elk Valley RCMP issued 10 24-hour roadside suspensions, 20 three-day immediate roadside prohibitions, and 48 90-day immediate roadside prohibitions, for a total of 78 impaired driving enforcements through the year.

“This was high,” Brown said.

“We’re getting a lot of numbers here. In the five other detachments I’ve been at, I haven’t seen numbers like this.”

Brown said the impaired driving numbers were only alcohol-related, not cannabis-related, and the licence plates involved were from both B.C. and Alberta.

“We are trying to get on the road more.”

“We’ve got some really eager constables that are trying to get everybody they can, which is amazing.”

She added that mandatory roadside screening was also helping increase their enforcement numbers.

Offence numbers specific to Elkford for Q3, from October to December, 2021, are as follows: three for domestic violence, four for sexual assault, seven for mischief, 10 for motor vehicle accidents, five for impaired investigations - criminal and provincial, and two for search and rescue callouts.

Brown said the sexual assault offences “are a little high”, and that they’re hoping to do some presentations on sexual offences in Elkford and the Elk Valley more broadly to speak about consent.

There were also two mental health calls in Q3 in Elkford, which went down from four in 2020. But, for the Elk Valley in general, there were 22 mental health calls in 2021, up from 20 in 2020.

Brown also mentioned that three new recruits are in training, and a new staff sergeant and sergeant will be joining the detachment around spring time.

“So summer time, it sounds like we will have quite a few more members on the road, and we’ll be in a lot better shape than I understand they were last summer.”

READ MORE: ‘We need support’ on COVID-compliance: Fernie to RCMP


@fishynewswatch
josh.fischlin@thefreepress.ca

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