Drug impaired drivers, undercover operation ferreting out drug traffickers highlight police activity at Shambhala
By Nelson Daily Editor
There was an overall increase in drivers impaired by drugs on West Kootenay roads during the Shambhala Music Festival Aug. 2-9, according to police enforcement units.
Several injury collisions were reported on Aug. 8 during the time the event was closing, said Sgt. Fred Mansveld of West Kootenay Integrated Road Safety Unit.
“It is believe that the majority of these collisions were associated to drivers being under the influence of drugs or simply under extreme fatigue,” he said in a press release. Although there were no fatal collisions, police were concerned about the high risk caused to the safety of the motorists traveling east and west from the Salmo area.
An undercover operation took place in Salmo and around the festival site during the first week of August. Four different male suspects sold acid and MDMA (ecstacy) to undercover operators.
The suspects were arrested for trafficking of a controlled substance and later released from police custody on documents to appear in Provincial Court on trafficking of a controlled substance charges.
Between Aug. 2-9 the West Kootenay Traffic members — with the assistance by the Nelson Police Department, several local RCM Police Detachments, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Office, Police Dog Services and the Advanced Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) Units from Kelowna — conducted roving patrols and road checks to detect high-risk drivers traveling to and from the Shambhala Music Festival.
Police had a strong presence on the highways during Shambhala. Numerous traffic road checks, as well as enforcement and patrols, were conducted within the Village of Salmo, Highway 3 and Highway 6.
Attendance at Shambhala was limited to 10,000 people and there were also approximately 1,000 volunteers, staff, entertainers and employees associated to the various music bands and commercial vendors and booths at the site.
Most attendees traveled to the festival via motor vehicle, resulting in a considerable increase in traffic for area residents.
Report from Salmo Detachment
During the past week, Salmo RCMP are recommending charges for the following Drug and Criminal Code offences:
- 8 – Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
- 1 – Possession Marihuana
- 2 – Breach of Conditions
- 1 – Forcible Confinement/Assault
- 1- Bribery
- Traffic charges:
- 2 – No Insurance
- 1 – Fail to produce driver’s license
- 2 – Drive contrary to restrictions
- 2 – Liquor
- Other – 13 written warnings/notice and order and two motor vehicle accidents
Statistics from West Kootenay Traffic Services and Integrated Road Safety Enforcement
Summary of enforcement as follows:
Violation tickets
(Name of offence, Number of tickets issued)
- Not wearing Seat Belt: 52
- No insurance: 13
- Speeding: 157
- Speed in Construction Zone: 3
- Excessive Speed: 6
- No driver’s licence: 33
- Drive contrary to Restrictions: 17
- D.L. General: 30
- No lights: 1
- Drive without Due care: 1
- Veh. Reg./Licence: 4
- Commercial: 2
- Intersection: 2
- Use of Electronic: 2
- Unsafe Pass: 2
- Vehicle Defects: 5
- Bald tires: 1
- Novice Driver: 15
- Serve Prohibition/Suspension: 2
- Prohibited Driver: 4
- Other: 19
- Vehicle Impoundments: 10
- Vehicle towed: 22
ALPR readings and hits
Day of event: Readings: Hits:
2011-08-02 2624 66
2011-08-03 2139 38
2011-08-04 2488 46
2011-08-05 2623 47
2011-08-06 5587 121
Total: 15461 318
Alcohol related offences
- Alcohol 90 day – fail: 2
- Alcohol 90 day – Refusal: 1
- Alcohol 3 day and Vehicle Impoundment: 5
- ASD (Roadside Screening) Tests: 24
- Liquor Act charges: 14
Drug and criminal interdiction related offences
- 24 Hrs. Drug Prohibition: 6
- Standard Field Sobriety Tests (SFST): 15
- Total Marihuana Seizures: 96
- Total Hash Seizures: 6
- Total MDMA Seizures: 5
- Total Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms) Seizures: 3
- Warrant Breach Probation: 1
- Warrant Other: 1
- Breach Probation Charge: 1
- Possession of Stolen Property Charge: 2
- Other charges: 2
- Notice and Order (Warning):
- Speed: 19
- Vehicle licence/Registration: 4
- Driver’s licence: 31
- Vehicle Defect: 46
- Other: 13
- Commercial: 2
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