Alberta driver grounded for seven days in boss’ truck
A heavy right foot earned a 42-year-old Minburn, AB, man a ride to his hotel in a police truck and his white 2013 Ford F-150 company truck a ride to the impound lot on the back of a tow truck.
Last Wednesday morning while police were conducting traffic enforcement duties along the SYD at KM22 they happened upon a vehicle travelling 128kms in the posted 80km zone.
ln keeping with the excessive speeding laws, those persons caught driving really fast have their vehicles impounded for seven days and receive $368 speeding tickets. This particular man is left with the unenviable task of explaining to the company what happened to their truck.
“I’ll hide behind the shower curtain. They won’t find me here‚ do you think?”
Also last Wednesday morning police received a complaint from a resident on Sahtenah Road reporting that an uninvited intoxicated man had just walked into and out of her home. The complainant told police the intoxicated man walked out of her house, into another house on Dene Etene Road, and was still there. Police attended the residence on Dene Etene Road and spoke to a resident of the house about the inioxicated man, who they at first denied was inside the residence.
However, after it was explained that the intoxicated man was seen entering the house and not leaving, the resident of the house acknowledged the man was inside the house. With the permission of the homeowner police entered the house and quickly located the 44-year-old Fort Nelson man hiding in the bathtub behind the shower curtain. Police arrested the man for mischief and transported him to the police office where he lodged in jail for several hours to sober up.
Just a few hours later at 2:15 p.m. police were alerted to an impaired driver on Kennay-Yah Road driving a white van. Police attended Kennay-Yah where they Iocated a white Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan approaching from the opposite direction.
Police immediately activated their emergency Iights and made a quick u-turn. They followed the van to where it pulled into the driveway of a nearby residence. Police walked up to the window of the van and asked the female driver if she had been drinking. The female driving advised police she had not been drinking. At this time police explained they had received a complaint about an impaired driver driving a white van on Kennay-Yah Road. The 21-year-old woman driving the van insisted she had not been drinking. Police could clearly smell the strong odour of liquor coming from inside the vehicle. Three female passengers inside the vehicle readily admitted they were drunk and this was the reason none of them were not driving. Police asked the driver to step outside the vehicle where she provided two breath samples into an approved roadside screening device‚ failing on both occasions. As a result, police impounded the vehicle for 30 days and issued the driver with a 90 day Immediate Roadside Prohibition from Driving.
Last Wednesday was a busy day for police. Shortly after 10:00 p.m. police stopped a 2013 Polaris Razor Company ATV being operated on Simpson Trail.
While speaking with the 30-year-old Fort Nelson man operating the ATV police detected the very strong and unmistakable odour of liquor on his breath. When asked about this the ATV operator admitted he had been drinking prior to driving.
Police obtained a roadside breath sample from the man that resulted in a failure indication.
However, because the man was already the recipient of a previous Immediate Roadside Prohibition police could not issue another. Instead they impounded the ATV and transports the ATV operator to the police office where he provided breath samples into the lntoximeter resulting in readings of 80 and 70 mgs. As a result police issued the man with a 24-hour driving prohibition.
While on the topic of ATVs, with summer winding down, it would appear that instead of getting better, the ATV problem is getting progressively worse with no relief in sight for weary residents who are probably heralding the arrival of winter and lots of snow.
The spring saw an alarming increase in the number of ATV complaints, which tapered off somewhat in June and July. August unfortunately saw another disturbing increase in the number of complaints from the public with regards to nuisance and dangerous ATV operators.
Police have received numerous complaints about ATV operators tearing up the community trail, excessive noise, speeding through residential areas, and driving down the middle of Highway #97 day and night, sometimes with no lights on after dark. There has also been a notable increase in the number of persons operating ATVs while intoxicated, even driving to the liquor stores on their ATVs to purchase more liquor. Police have also noted and warned an increasing number of persons who are driving their ATVs to the local gas station for a fill up. A very small group of very inconsiderate people are completely ruining the reputation of the ATV community in Fort Nelson and putting the police in the position of exercising zero tolerance when it comes to dealing with ATVs in contravention of the traffic safety infractions, even minor ones.
Police are looking for a thief. Last Thursday morning at 10:20 a.m. police received a report from a resident living on 50th Avenue North reporting their unlocked vehicle had been entered with their wallet and a bottle of Golden Wedding Whiskey being stolen.
Once again police are reminding vehicle owners to Iock their unattended vehicles and never Ieave anything of value inside the vehicle.
If you must leave items of value in your vehicle lock them up out of sight in the trunk, other secure container, or tool box.
Staff Sergeant Tom Roy
Officer-in-Charge
Northern Rockies Detachment
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