Bylaw officers can't arrest

Re. Brian Kettle's letter Fix lighting, fight crime (Castanet, Jan. 16)

I have no response about Penticton's bike lanes, as I live in Kelowna, but regarding the other concerns, I write this.

According to the province (gov.bc.ca) bylaws are laws that formalize rules made by a council or a board. Local governments may use bylaws for various purposes, especially to regulate, prohibit or impose requirements. Bylaws are laws passed by municipal councils and regional district boards to exercise their statutory authority.

In the letter, the writer says bylaw officers ignore drug dealing, open drinking and groups gathered at night. He says bylaw (officers) drive right by, letting these "criminals" get into their cars and drive around impaired.

To address his concerns, bylaw officers cannot, and should not, be arresting drug dealers or approaching groups of people doing anything, especially if it is criminal. They are not trained, nor equipped, for that.

Driving by and doing nothing is the same as (anyone) driving by and doing nothing. They are not trained, authorized or equipped for that. Any criminal activity, especially intoxicated driving, Ould be reported to the RCMP.

In Alberta, bylaw officers are considered peace officers and can enforce the Motor Vehicle Act. They can pull you over, write you a speeding ticket or any other MVA tickets. They are trained, and equipped, to do so. Obviously, if we give those powers to B.C. bylaw officers, they will need training, equipment and a name change, as MVA laws are not bylaws, so “bylaw officer" would be inappropriate. Maybe “community safety officer” would be a better title.

The traffic stop remains one of the most dangerous aspects of police work. Officers who are exposed to traffic stops need a lot more—and very different—training than a bylaw officer would normally have.

They will also need completely different equipment—guns, non-lethal alternatives, red and blue lights, bulletproof vests. They will need access to a safe way to transport people they arrest.

I think it is a step in the right direction, or scrap the RCMP and get a regional police force, as someone previously suggested.

Part of the reason drivers are so bad here in B.C. is because they have never had to obey the laws of the road, since there is next to zero enforcement of the MVA.

Write to the minister of public safety and express your desire to see the rules changed so enforcement can be performed by outside agencies and, if you see something criminal or dangerous to the public, call the RCMP.

Troy Gangl