Boating part of dynamic causing spike in impaired charges
By Castlegar Source
It’s still impaired driving if you’re driving a boat.
That’s a message local police are failing to get through to residents, as road stops continue to net inordinately high numbers of impaired drivers leaving local lakes, campgrounds and beaches.
This past weekend saw two impaired charges and four suspensions, while the weekend of July 11 saw six impaired charges; 17 24-hour suspensions and two 12-hour suspensions (not to mention two drug seizures)… all at road blocks along Broadwater Road.
West Kootenay Traffic Services Const. Shayne Orr called the number of charges “overwhelming” in frequency, given the volume of traffic.
“People just don’t seem to be getting a clue,” he said. “We’re conducting highly visible check stops – and we’ll keep conducting them as long as the problem continues. It’s unnacceptable.
“The numbers speak for themselves.”
He said the majority of people choosing to drive while under the influence are people coming from summer recreational activities.
Meanwhile, according to Castlegar RCMP Sgt. Laurel Mathew, sporadic boat checks at the launch on Broadwater Road are seeing residents complying with most boating laws except for the ones regarding alcohol consumption.
“Everything seems to be in order (in most cases), with life jackets in the boats; licensed drivers; that kind of thing,” she said. “The one problem we’re still seeing way, way too much is alcohol on the boats.
“It’s a motor vehicle – so it’s impaired driving, the same as if you were in a car.”
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