Members of the Weyburn Police Service were busy on Weyburn streets for three hours on Wednesday evening, as part of a high-visibility campaign by the police to curb driving infractions and to crack down on drunk driving.
There were two hour-long check stops held, one on Government Road and the other on First Avenue in front of the Weyburn General Hospital, with a total of roughly 250 motorists stopped during this period, said Sgt. Hugh Gilchrist.
Sgt. Gilchrist said the check stops went well on Wednesday, with no tickets for major infractions such as impaired driving issued. The biggest infraction they came across were drivers who did not have their license or registration with them. No tickets were issued for this infraction, but the drivers were warned.
Police then conducted a high visibility traffic stop in Weyburn on Highway 39 on Sunday, in an effort to reduce impaired drivers. Police checked 17 vehicles and found the driver of one vehicle to be impaired by alcohol and he was arrested. The accused blew nearly three times over the legal limit, and was charged with impaired drive and over .08. The driver was also charged with speeding, open liquor in a vehicle and driving without appropriate license. The 21-year-old male was released from custody when sober and will be appearing in court at a later date.
Sgt. Gilchrist noted SGI is funding the new high-visibility check stops in an effort to reduce the numbers of drivers who have suspended licenses, or who are driving impaired, are not using seat belts properly or are distracted while driving by using their cell phones for texting or calls.
"There are going to be more high-visibility check stops about once or twice a month. People will be seeing them at random times around the city, and when people see the bright flashing lights, they need to slow down," said Sgt. Gilchrist, noting the check stops will be held from now until the end of 2017.
It was a good sign that no impaired drivers were found in the large check stop, although one driver was charged from the weekend check stop, and hopes that people are getting the message not to drink and drive, said Sgt. Gilchrist, and added, "We do notice there are more vehicles that are being left at drinking establishments overnight."
