Almost two dozen drivers were given a notice to repair safety infractions to their cars and trucks during a checkstop in Okotoks last week.
Okotoks municipal enforcement and the provincial commercial vehicle enforcement took to the streets on June 24, issuing warnings and tickets for drivers of vehicles found violating safety laws. Officers spent two hours on 32 Street before moving to Northridge drive for a couple of hours in the afternoon.
Municipal enforcement officer Sam Burnett said 55 passenger vehicles were stopped during the four-hour period, and 22 traffic violation notices were issued for a total of 27 infractions.
“These are basically fix-it orders,” said Burnett. “There is no fine amount provided you get the issue fixed.”
He said notices were written for issues like cracked windshields obstructing the driver’s view, faulty brake lights or headlights, and horns that didn’t work properly. A few people were given notices for having illegal window tints on front windows of their vehicles, and drivers of some large lifted trucks received a notice for not having proper mud flaps or fenders to prevent rocks and water from spraying into traffic.
Burnett said vehicle owners have one week to have the issue on the notice fixed and return to municipal enforcement to prove it has been taken care of. If anyone needs more than one week, it is their responsibility to make arrangements for an extension with municipal enforcement, he said.
If someone does not show up or contact the municipal enforcement office, a ticket for the original offense is mailed along with a $233 ticket for failure to follow direction of a peace officer to ensure a motor vehicle is safe to operate.
“We’re not out to issue tickets, we’re trying to make sure equipment gets fixed,” said Burnett.
Only five tickets were issued on-site during the June 24 checkstop, he said. One was a $2,875 fine for having no insurance, and the others were $233 tickets for failure to present valid documentation like current driver’s licenses or registration and insurance papers.
In all, he said drivers of passenger vehicles were generally receptive to the feedback provided during the checkstop and officers didn’t encounter anyone too angry with receiving a notice.
“It didn’t seem to be a problem for most people,” said Burnett. “Nobody was really very upset because we issued mostly traffic violation notices.”
On the commercial vehicle side it was a different story, he said.
Commercial vehicle enforcement stopped a total of 12 vehicles in four hours and completed level two inspections. Burnett said the check included a full walk-around inspection for anything safety-related on each vehicle from five-ton trucks to cargo vehicles.
They were looking for issues like improperly weighted vehicles, loads not properly secured, mechanical concerns, proper dimensions and unsafe transportation of dangerous goods. Permits and insurance are also part of the inspection, he said.
Commercial vehicle safety infractions resulted in nine tickets and six of the 12 vehicles were placed out-of-service, he said.
“They were upset because their vehicles were taken out-of-service,” said Burnett. “It’s understandable, but really these guys don’t do that lightly. If the vehicles are seriously unsafe they need to be taken off the road.
Municipal enforcement plans to continue running safety checkstops periodically in conjunction with the RCMP or commercial vehicle enforcement to ensure vehicle safety, he said.
