By CHIEF ROBERT DUTTCHEN, Corman Park Police Service
On the evening of March 17, a Corman Park Police Service (CPPS) officer was conducting speed enforcement on Highway 16 westbound near Langham. A vehicle with Alberta plates was checked by radar and recorded at 157 km/h in a 110 km/h zone. A traffic stop led the officer to suspect the driver was impaired by alcohol. The officer read a demand for the driver to provide a breath sample into an approved screening device.
The driver refused to comply and was charged with refusal. Refusing to provide a sample carries the same penalties as providing a sample twice the legal limit. The vehicle was impounded for 60 days, the driver was issued an indefinite licence suspension, and he was lodged at the Saskatoon RCMP detachment until he could be released with dates for a future court appearance.
Shortly after midnight on March 18, Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) Air 1 advised the RCMP of a vehicle that had fled from police in the city. RCMP members were able to successfully deploy a spike belt, but the driver then fled on foot. The RCMP requested that CPPS attend and deploy the Remotely Piloted Aerial System (RPAS) to assist in the search for the suspect. Although the incident had moved outside the RM, CPPS responded to support the RCMP. The RPAS was able to locate the suspect and direct ground units to his location, where he was taken safely into custody. Cooperation with our law enforcement partners is a cornerstone of the CPPS mandate, and this incident is a clear example of how the RCMP, SPS and CPPS work together to deliver strong outcomes and ensure dangerous suspects are apprehended.
Later, in the early morning hours of March 18, CPPS officers were again patrolling Highway 16 near Langham when they observed a vehicle operating erratically and initiated a traffic stop. Once again, a demand for a sample into an approved screening device was made. This driver chose to provide the sample, which resulted in a “fail” reading. The driver was processed administratively and released at the scene after receiving a licence suspension and having his vehicle impounded.
On March 19 and 20, CPPS speed enforcement resulted in a Novice 2 driver being caught travelling 169 km/h in a 90 km/h zone, and a driver with a learner’s permit travelling 155 km/h in a 90 km/h zone. The first driver received a fine of $1,123 and the second driver a $966 fine.
Both vehicles were impounded for 30 days under The Traffic Safety Act provisions for excessive speed, and both drivers received seven‑day licence suspensions.
The Traffic Safety Act in Saskatchewan includes specific “excessive speed” provisions that significantly increase penalties once a driver is far above the posted limit. Drivers travelling 35 km/h or more over the limit, 50 km/h or more over, or at least double the posted speed face higher fines, more demerit points and mandatory vehicle impoundments, typically 30 days.
These sanctions apply in addition to regular speeding fines and are designed to target the highest‑risk behaviours, such as extreme speeding and racing, which are associated with a disproportionate share of serious and fatal collisions on Saskatchewan highways.
While patrolling Township Road 384 on March 22, a CPPS officer stopped a vehicle for its manner of driving. At the roadside, the driver admitted to having recently consumed cannabis. The officer proceeded to make an oral‑fluid demand, which resulted in a positive test for marijuana. The new driver received a 60‑day licence suspension and the vehicle was impounded for three days.
Consistent, visible enforcement by CPPS, combined with close operational partnerships with the RCMP and SPS, continues to enhance safety on regional roadways and demonstrates our shared commitment to holding high‑risk drivers accountable.