RCMP, provincial conservation conduct traffic blitz in West Prince

Police wrote several tickets, towed three vehicles and seized one firearm after conducting road checks in western P.E.I. on Friday, Oct. 23.

Prince District RCMP, RCMP police dog services and RCMP traffic specialists, along with provincial conservation officers, conducted joint road checks for impaired drivers, Highway Traffic Act offences and OffHighway Vehicle Act offences in various communities in the

West Prince area, including O’Leary, Alberton, Miminegash and Tignish.

Five check points were conducted with hundreds of vehicles being checked.

A number of verbal warnings were issued, along with 10 summary offence tickets for various offences and two Cannabis Act tickets. Officers also conducted two standard field sobriety tests, towed three vehicles and seized one firearm.

There have been ongoing issues with people driving all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) on the roadway and even taunting police in these communities.

This was evident during the course of the night as ATVs failed to stop for police in O’Leary, Miminegash and Tignish. Police are issuing a warning to ATV drivers that they may face Criminal Code, Highway Traffic Act and OffHighway Vehicle Act charges for these activities, as well as have their ATVs seized and potentially driving suspensions issued.

These vehicles are not suitable for driving at high speeds on roadways, and this type of behaviour endangers the ATV rider as well as the public. There are plenty or trails and areas to use these ATVs across the Island, and most people do so responsibly with proper documentation for their ATV.

In the coming months, Prince District RCMP and partners will continue to focus on identifying the people involved in these activities and using all legal means to remedy this unsafe behaviour.

Anyone with information on people involved in these activities is asked to contact the Prince District RCMP at 902-853-9300 or 902-4369300 or P.E.I. Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477.