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More tickets coming for distracted drivers, speeders and no seatbelts

Town gets behind campaign to get CPOs RCMP radio access 

ATHABASCA – Athabasca's community peace officer (CPO) has been noticing a lot more blatant violations from drivers in town recently, and is setting out to correct that in the coming weeks. 

That’s one of the things CPO Brian Bandura told Athabasca town councillors at their July 13 meeting during his monthly report, noting he is constantly seeing drivers talking on their phones or using other electronic devices, failing to wear their seatbelts and speeding. 

“Rather than pointing at them, we will be pulling them over, so heads up to everyone who's driving around without a seatbelt. We'll be enforcing that a lot more actively. Also watch your road speeds in town, we'll be watching that as well,” Bandura said. “I’m making it sporty for everybody, and I normally don't do that, but the word is out now, so please be careful. Enjoy your summers everybody, and be safe out there.” 

Bandura also said he has been keeping his eye on a number of unsightly premises around town, both residential and commercial, and will soon be enforcing that bylaw with more vigour as well. Between June 9 and July 6, he reported there had been 17 occurrence files related to 42 properties inside town limits – 16 of those in Cornwall; 13 downtown; four in Hees Estates; five in the east hill area; and one each involving lots off Wood Heights Road, Muskeg Creek Flats, High School Hill and Inn Hill areas. 

He was also called in to assist RCMP in six instances that ranged from criminal occurrences to abandoned vehicles, to assisting with a “shanty camp” across the river. A joint operation with the Town of Westlock and Westlock County also resulted in one arrest on warrants and a speeding ticket, along with many warnings for drivers and passengers to wear their seatbelts. 

 

Radio campaign 

Bandura was back in front of council later in the meeting as mayor Colleen Powell invited him to comment on a letter and campaign by the Alberta Association of Community Peace Officers (AACPO) to access RCMP radio talk groups, to provide quick communication capabilities between the two law enforcement entities, as was the case before AFRRCS was introduced. 

The province began implementing the Alberta First Responders Radio Communications System in 2016 for police, fire and ambulance, but CPOs could not access the new technology. Now interactions that used to take seconds, can now take minutes, and in an emergency minutes matter. 

Bandura reiterated the gist of the letter before council from AACPO president Terri Miller, noting the group had started pilot projects with the RCMP in certain jurisdictions, but it was determined there wasn’t enough manpower to change the radios over, and the pilot projects have been at a standstill since. 

“After discussing the success of the pilot project, we were hoping to move ahead and onboard additional authorized employers, but the RCMP indicated they needed to suspend the project due to a staff shortage in their informatics department,” read Miller’s letter. “The RCMP assured us that they are committed to the completion of this project and that they have submitted a request for additional staff and are currently waiting to hear from the provincial government regarding the request.” 

“So, this is a major blow to the way you operate with the RCMP?” Powell asked. 

Bandura responded in the affirmative, but clarified these decisions are being made far above the pay grade of anyone locally and that he has an excellent relationship with local RCMP members. 

Miller’s letter urged municipalities to write to the justice minister, AUMA and RMA to express their concern, with which the mayor was in full agreement. 

“At this point, she wants us to support this and send a letter to the justice minister. I would not be opposed to that … I would entertain a motion to send a letter requesting a review of this with the object of coordinating radios,” she said. 

Coun. Dave Pacholok answered the call, and the motion was approved unanimously. 

 

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