By CHIEF ROBERT DUTTCHEN, Corman Park Police Service
It was a busy week for CPPS members, with several impaired and drug-affected driving investigations across the RM, along with speed enforcement and a serious collision.
In the early evening of August 3, Corman Park Police Service (CPPS) responded to a report of a possible impaired driver on Grasswood Road, heading toward Highway 219. Police located the vehicle and a traffic stop was initiated. At the roadside, a demand for a breath sample into an approved screening device was made. The driver refused to provide a sample as required. As a result of that refusal, the driver was arrested and charged. It is worth noting that the immediate sanctions for refusing to provide a breath sample are the same as those for providing a breath sample at twice the legal limit: an indefinite suspension of the driver’s licence until the court proceeding is completed, a sixty-day vehicle impoundment, a -20 penalty on the driver’s Safe Driver Recognition rating, and an ignition interlock device requirement for a period of two years.
Fatal collisions have continued to occur across the province this summer.
On August 4 at 4:30 am, CPPS responded to a report of a serious rollover collision on Highway 11 near Hanley. As this collision is being investigated by the RCMP, CPPS will not release details regarding the collision. It is important to highlight that CPPS was able to attend outside of the RM to provide assistance to the RCMP in support of their leading the investigation.
Around 9 a.m. that same day, CPPS stopped a vehicle on Warman Road near Circle Drive for distracted driving. At the roadside, it became apparent that the driver had drugs in their system, and the officer requested an oral fluid sample. The sample returned a positive result for marijuana. This resulted in an immediate three-day licence suspension, and the vehicle was impounded for sixty days.
On the evening of August 6, a CPPS member observed a vehicle travelling on Highway 16 near Dalmeny Road. This is an 80 km/h zone, and the vehicle was captured on radar travelling 123 km/h. The vehicle was stopped and, while speaking to the driver, the officer smelled a strong odour of burnt cannabis emanating from the vehicle. Based on that, a demand was made for an oral fluid sample. The test returned a positive result for marijuana and resulted in a three-day licence suspension and vehicle impoundment, as well as a ticket for speeding.
The morning of August 7, around 9:30 am, CPPS stopped a vehicle on Highway 16 westbound near the Highway 11 exit in relation to that vehicle’s manner of driving. While speaking to the driver, the officer observed signs of recent beverage alcohol consumption. A demand for a roadside breath sample was made and resulted in an “Alert.” The driver was given a three-day licence suspension and a vehicle impoundment for the same period.
Later that evening, police stopped a vehicle on Highway 219. The driver displayed signs of drug impairment, and an oral fluid demand was made. The test returned a positive finding for the presence of cocaine. As a result, the vehicle was impounded for three days, and the driver’s licence was suspended for three days. The driver was also issued offence notices for failing to produce their driver’s licence and possession of unstamped tobacco.
On August 8, at approximately 6 p.m., CPPS was patrolling the area of Fedoruk Road near Range Road 3050. The officer observed a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed and targeted it using radar. The vehicle’s speed was recorded at 100 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. The vehicle was stopped and seized for thirty days. The driver’s licence was also suspended for seven days.
In the early morning hours of August 9, police stopped a vehicle near the CPPS office after the driver failed to move the vehicle when the light changed. At the window, the driver admitted to consuming alcohol and displayed other signs of beverage alcohol consumption. The officer made a demand for a roadside screening breath sample. The driver stated that they would not comply with the demand and was arrested for failing to comply with a breath demand. The driver was processed and released with dates to appear in court and for fingerprinting.
This fall, I am looking forward to connecting with the leaders of Hamlet Councils.
Hearing concerns directly from local communities fosters understanding of local challenges and allows me to share how CPPS can respond to assist residents through proactive traffic enforcement as a deterrent to criminal activity around the RM. If you would like to schedule me to attend a community meeting in your Hamlet, please email our office at: police.service@cormanparkpolice.ca.