On October 18, 2018 officers from the Saanich Police Traffic Safety Unit conducted an enforcement campaign at the intersection of Quadra St/McKenzie Ave. This particular intersection is one of the busiest intersections in the CRD, and is also one of the highest crash zones on Vancouver Island.
In two hours officers issued over 50 tickets for violations under the Motor Vehicle Act. These included high risk driving behaviour for intersection offences (running red lights), speeding, seatbelts offences and people using their electronic devices while driving.
In addition to the Motor Vehicle Act violations one ticket was issued under the new Cannabis Control and Licensing Act, when an officer observed a passenger in a vehicle smoking a cannabis cigarette. The passenger was issued a violation ticket for $230 as Section 65 of the Act does not allow occupants of a vehicle to use cannabis. During the stop officers spoke to the driver and, after a conversation with him, were satisfied his ability to operate a motor vehicle had not been affected by his passengers’ use of cannabis.
“The Saanich Police Department continues to use standard field sobriety testing when drug impaired driving is suspected” said Sgt. Jereme Leslie. “This is nothing new to the Saanich Police Department and around half the officers in Saanich are trained to do this testing.”
The Saanich Police Department continues to organize traffic safety projects like this, and proactive impaired driving checks, to ensure our roads are safe for all road users. We all play a part in making our roads safe – safe drivers make safe roads.
Sgt. Jereme Leslie #228