Shambhala Festival police blitz nets aggressive and impaired drivers
By Nelson Daily Staff
RCMP Traffic Services in southeastern British Columbia were kept busy with traffic stops due to the influx of vehicles due to the recent Shambhala Music Festival near Salmo.
RCMP said during the week leading up to the festival police took seven alcohol and two drug impaired drivers off the road, had 133 contacts related to speeding of which 26 were excessive speed (more than 40 kilometers over the speed limit), and 178 other violations.
Following the completion of the music festival, Monday and Tuesday, police focussed on impaired and fatigued drivers and removed three alcohol and 15 drug impaired drivers from the road and dealt with 272 other violations in relation to a variety of offences from vehicle defects to unlicensed drivers and uninsured vehicles.
RCMP would like to thank drivers that were caught up in the congestion for their patience.
“Many of the drivers caught up in the congestion not attending the festival took a moment to thank the police officers on the side of the road for doing the enhanced enforcement,” said Sergeant Chad Badry with the West Kootenay Traffic Section.
Badry said RCMP takes impaired and dangerous driving infractions seriously and has always remained dedicated to removing intoxicated drivers from the roads.
RCMP officers from throughout British Columbia and Nelson Police Department joined West Kootenay Traffic Services and West Kootenay Integrated Road Safety Unit to keep the roads safe which also saw Alexa’s Bus deployed.
