ON September 18, Richmond RCMP joined forces with ICBC, BC Highway Patrol, Metro Vancouver Transit Police, CN police, City of Richmond staff and volunteers for a single day joint operation combatting distracted driving in Richmond.
During this operation, officers issued 102 tickets for use of an electronic device while driving, totaling $59,364 in fines and penalty point premiums. An additional 48 charges for other offences brought in another $6,993 in fines, bringing the day’s total to $66,357.
BC Highway Patrol also served two driving prohibitions, while officers from the Ministry of Transportation and Transit Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) conducted three commercial vehicle inspections.
In addition, Richmond RCMP community policing volunteers observed 14,262 vehicles, with 107 offences documented. Each of those registered owners will receive a warning letter by mail.
The City of Richmond Parks Crew got officers from Richmond RCMP’s Road Safety Unit “in the air” in a bucket-truck to observe and document approximately 60 offenders in less than three hours at Sea Island Way and Garden City Road.
The “stop of the op”, identified by officers as the day’s most significant, involved a driver spotted by the officers in the bucket-truck who was not only on their phone but also had a child standing in the backseat. When the vehicle was stopped, the officer involved discovered it had no insurance and there were four people (two adults and two children) in a backseat meant for three. The two children and an adult were not properly restrained. The driver was issued $1,565 in fines and penalty points before ensuring the families departed safely in other vehicles.
“Increased visibility and enforcement go a long way in deterring people from using their phones while driving,” says Sgt. Eric Baskette of the Richmond RCMP Road Safety Unit. “Distracted driving is the second leading cause of serious injury collisions in British Columbia and operations like this one, with both enforcement and education, are what truly make a difference in keeping people safe on and around our roadways.”
Richmond RCMP will be continuing their distracted driving enforcement campaign this fall. Drivers are urged to keep their phones out of sight and reach to avoid distractions.
