3,000 vehicles stopped by police in Chamberlain

CHAMBERLAIN — If you were travelling Highway 11 near Chamberlain Wednesdsay and Thursday, your vehicle might have been among the 3,000 processed through a police check stop, and maybe even one of 20 impounded from drivers under the influence.

On July 9 and 10, Combined Traffic Services Section hosted a two-day check stop along Highway 11 at Chamberlain.

CTSS units from RCMP Rosetown, Meadow Lake, Maidstone, Martinsville, Melfort, North Battleford, Fort Qu’Appelle and Lanigan were joined by Regina Police Service and Saskatoon Police Service CTSS units, as well as Saskatchewan Highway Patrol (SHP) for the coordinated event. Over three thousand drivers were stopped.

Police officers administered 33 cannabis tests resulting in 15 tickets as well as roadside suspension and vehicles impoundment to drivers who had recently consumed cannabis.

“We’ve issued a number of roadside suspensions for cannabis use before driving. It’s important for all drivers in Saskatchewan to know that you are not allowed to use cannabis then drive,” says RCMP Cst. Mario Chabot of Rosetown CTSS.

Additional violations included:

• 1 roadside suspension for alcohol use.
• 1 roadside suspension for cocaine use.
• 20 impounded vehicles for consuming drugs or alcohol before driving;
• 1 criminal charge for impaired operation of a vehicle.
• 4 tickets for open liquor in the vehicle.
• 214 total tickets, including 3 seatbelt violations; 29 for speeding and one for speeding more than 50 kilometers over the speed limit resulting in impoundment.
• 22 tickets or warnings for trailer/tow related violations.
• 3 seizures of illicit cannabis.

Police officers also issued 247 warnings to motorists and handed out two car seats to drivers transporting children with expired, faulty, or no child safety seat.

In total, over 30 officers from 8 RCMP detachments and three partner policing agencies teamed up to get drivers through as quickly as possible.

“Motorists are generally glad to see officers taking impaired drivers off the road and deterring driving behaviors like speeding that put others at risk. We want to thank everyone who passed through the Chamberlain traffic stop this week for their patience and shared commitment to safety, as well as the many officers who dedicated their time,” shared Cst. Chabot.

“These check stops are a team effort between agencies, and they show the public that we’re working together to keep communities safe. It’s something we’re proud to be a part of,” Saskatchewan Highway Patrol Chief Supt. Brendan Tuchscherer.