West Kootenay Traffic Services report busy weekend; caution people attending Shambhala Music Festival
By Nelson Daily Staff
West Kootenay Traffic Services reported a busy weekend of traffic this BC Day Holiday Weekend but no serious accidents in the region.
Cpl. Chad Badry of the RCMP West Kootenay Integrated Road Safety Unit said police saw an increase in the volume of traffic while officers targeted aggressive drivers and impaired drivers.
“Traffic Services police officers handed out 12 excessive speeding tickets over the weekend with the vehicles impounded for seven days and gave out in excess of 50 speeding tickets,” Badry said in a media release.
“(There were) eight impaired by drug or alcohol drivers were removed from the roads and 12 illegal drug seizures were made.”
Badry said police would continue to be out in numbers as the area welcomes more than 12,000 people planning to attend the 2016 Shambhala Music Festival outside Salmo.
Badry said last year saw more than 70 excessive speed tickets and vehicle impounds in the days surrounding Shambhala in addition to numerous drug possession and drug trafficking charges.
“We will be working hard to keep our roads safe,” Badry said. “So please remember to buckle up, keep your eyes on the road, drive within the speed limit, don’t drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and keep your mind on your driving.”
The Shambhala Music Festival, which began in 1998, is held during the first week of August at a 500-acre ranch outside Salmo. The festival begins Thursday, running through Sunday offering mix of electronic music, art and culture.
The Shambhala Music Festival has grown to become the largest and one of the longest running electronic music events in Canada.
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