More than 80 drug-impaired driving tickets issued at Shambhala in West Kootenay
BC Highway Patrol handed out hundreds of tickets and busted drivers on drugs at the recent Shambhala Music Festival in the Kootenays.
Officers issued more than 800 tickets, towed 60 vehicles, handed out 59 one-day driving suspensions to drug-impaired drivers and launched 24 criminal investigations for drug-impairment during the festival in Salmo from July 21 to 25, according to an RCMP media release issued today, Aug. 5.
BC Highway Patrol officers were out in force cracking down on drivers on all the mountain passes into Salmo including the Kootenay Pass, Bombi Pass and Paulson Pass.
Police also issued 360 speeding tickets, nine excessive speeding tickets, 11 tickets for no insurance and 11 notices for unsafe vehicles. Excessive speeding is going more than 40 km/h over the posted speed limit.
“The temperatures were high and a little uncomfortable for officers working long days in full uniform, but it’s clear this enforcement was necessary," BC Highway Patrol media relations officer Cpl. Michael McLaughlin said in the release.
"Police officers were particularly concerned about getting impaired drivers and unsafe vehicles off the road, and they were right to be concerned."
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jesse Tomas or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. Find our Journalism Ethics policy here.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.
