BC Highway Patrol officers catch 19 impaired drivers in Salmo
By Castlegar Source
BC Highway Patrol officers caught 19 drug impaired drivers at the 2024 Shambala Festival last weekend including a drug trafficker coming from the festival, according to RCMP Cpl. Melissa Jongema.
She said BC Highway Patrol conducted two full days of check stops and sifted through over 30,000 visitors going to and from the festival to combat impaired driving, and here are the results:
- 199 Mandatory Alcohol Screenings;
- 39 drivers received 24-hour suspension by drugs;
- 19 drivers were evaluated and charged with impaired driving by drug;
- 144 Motor Vehicle Act charges;
- 5 seizures of possession of a controlled substance; and
- 1 seizure for possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Officers also arrested two people on outstanding warrants for uttering threats, assault, robbery, assault causing bodily harm, and drive while prohibited.
The results of this two-day enforcement effort not only highlights the importance of having BCHP out on the roads during these events, but also demonstrated to extreme dedication and hard work members of BCHP give to keeping our communities and roadways safe,
said Sgt. Vince LeBlanc, Kootenay Highway Patrol in Nelson. Our BC Highway Patrol officers worked tirelessly and were highly successful in our goal to remove impaired drivers from our highways.
