Hudson’s Hope RCMP responded to 15 calls for service between February 18 to March 18, 2022. Forty-seven written violations and warning tickets were issued to drivers between the above dates for various motor vehicle related offences. Highway and road safety continues to be a focus for the Hudson’s Hope RCMP.
Please make note of the numerous construction sites along Hwy 29 toward Fort St. John. Due to the increase of work sites along the highway, there is a large fluctuation between the speed zones for each site. Police will be monitoring these areas as they are a posted construction zone and fines will range from $196 to $253 for speeding violations within a marked construction zone.
March is Distracted Driving Month in B.C. and with spring break just around the corner, the RCMP will be ramping up distracted driving enforcement this month. Fines for distracted driving, ie: Use of an electronic device while driving, comes with a $368 ticket and four points.
“Use” in relation to an electronic device, means one or more of the following actions:
- Holding the device in a position in which it may be used;
- Operating one or more of the devices functions;
- Communicating orally by means of the device with another person or another device;
- Taking another action this is set out in the regulations by means of, with or in relation to an electronic device.
A driver must NOT:
- Hold, operate, communicate, or watch the screen of a hand-held electronic communication device;
- Send or receive text messages or email on any type of electronic device, or;
- Hold, operate, communicate or watch the screen of a hand-held electronic device, one of the purposes of which is to process or compute data.
- Nor, tape one’s phone to their steering wheel and call it hands free! (true story)
These prohibitions DO NOT apply if the driver is:
- Safely parked and off the roadway, or;
- Making an emergency call to 911.
As a side note, Section 214.2 of the Motor Vehicle Act allows peace officers and person’s driving or operating an ambulance, and fire services personnel to utilize an electronic device while in the operation of their duties where safe and fit to do so.
On March 3, the Hudson’s Hope RCMP responded to a vehicle fire along Paquette Ave. where upon arriving on scene, police observed HH Fire extinguishing a vehicle which had flames coming from within the cab of the vehicle. No persons were inside the vehicle at the time of the fire and no persons injured. File remains open for investigation at this time.
On March 8, the Hudson’s Hope RCMP stopped a vehicle for excessive speed through the school zone along Beattie Dr. The driver of the vehicle was issued a ticket for $368 after the vehicle was observed travelling at a speed of 48km/hr over the posted speed limit.
On March 15, the Hudson’s Hope RCMP received a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area of the HH pool parking lot. It was reported that a newer dark coloured grey van, possibly a Toyota, single male occupant, had been parked in the lot near the pool and playground with suspicious attributes stemming from its presence. Upon the complainant attempting to get close enough to obtain a photograph, the vehicle hastily sped off and police were unable to locate the vehicle.
On March 18, the Hudson’s Hope RCMP received a report of a theft of fuel from a worksite along Hwy 29. It was reported that someone had siphoned a large amount of diesel from an excavator some time throughout the night. Photographs/video were on-site and provided to police. File remains open for investigation.
Please make note of the Hwy 29 road closures starting March 18 and carrying on to March 24, with the highway being closed between the hours of 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. The highway near the Farrell Creek bridge project will be closed completely from both sides during the above noted dates and times and all vehicles travelling through at these times will either have to wait till the highway re-opens at 4 a.m., or detour through Hwy 97. Police will be monitoring the road closures.
At an undisclosed time and date, police observed an elderly lady knitting while driving her vehicle along the roadway. Police deemed this as distracted driving, drove up along side the lady, and yelled, “pull-over.” The lady yelled back, “No, they’re mittens.” (insert Ha ha now)
Anyone with information regarding current or past investigations can contact the Hudson’s Hope RCMP directly at 250-783-5241 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Visit http://crimestoppersnebc.ca for advice on submitting tips online and to browse the areas “Most Wanted” page.
