North Okanagan

It was a busy Thanksgiving Day long weekend for North Okanagan Traffic Services.

They reported a high number of speeding violations and other offences on our roads, even through the week.

“They concentrated on the North Okanagan Traffic Services mandate, which is 90 percent highway, so that’s all the versions of Hwy 97 and Hwy 6. They were busy,” says Vernon RCMP Cpl. Gerry Kovacs.

British Columbia’s penalties for drinking and driving, which came into force again June 15th after procedural changes, remain the toughest in Canada. But RCMP say this week the North Okanagan had a spike in alcohol-related driving offences.

While 103 violation tickers were issued for speeding, 13 vehicles were impounded, 10 of which belonged to IRP (Immediate Roadside Prohibition) files.

“(With) those numbers, that was a big spike for this week. Obviously the warm weather continues and so does the alcohol related driving events,” says Kovacs.

“We know that these holiday weekends generate a lot of traffic and the only way to get proactive out there is to be out there. I travel frequently on long weekends and it’s nice to know that they are out there.”

The fine for excessive speeding ranges from $368 to $483 and includes the impound of your vehicle when traveling more than 40 kilometers per hour over the speed limit.