Photo by Whitehorse Star
Cpl. Shawn Pollard
Stop-checks show impaired driving is still a problem
At least three Yukon arrests were made during National Impaired Driving Awareness and Enforcement Day on Saturday.
At least three Yukon arrests were made during National Impaired Driving Awareness and Enforcement Day on Saturday.
Cpl. Shawn Pollard, with Yukon RCMP Traffic Services, said today numbers have only come in from detachments in Whitehorse and Teslin, but he expects to hear from other community detachments shortly.
In addition to the three arrests (all alcohol-related), Pollard told the Star, Teslin and Whitehorse reported several 24-hour licence suspensions.
This was the third annual enforcement day, which happens twice yearly, but Pollard said it’s impossible to compare numbers from year to year.
“My honest opinion of impaired driving is we’re not winning by any means here,” he said.
Pollard said British Columbia has reduced the number of fatalities and serious injury by streamlining the system and enforcing strict consequences.
Some of these include licence suspensions of varying lengths, attendance at mandatory driving programs, and having an ignition interlock system installed so drivers must blow into a breathalyzer before they can start the vehicle.
Pollard also noted, however, that impaired driving extends beyond alcohol and illegal drugs, to include prescription drugs and fatigue.
Pollard said he has watched drivers fall asleep in front of him as he’s questioning them.
Just last week, he said, a Mayo man drove off the road after falling asleep.
Fortunately, the man was unharmed, but Pollard said the RCMP see a lot of fatalities along the Alaska Highway.
“There’s long distances here and some boring roads,” he said.
Pollard also said impaired driving isn’t limited to cars and trucks. He said officers are out on trails in the communities, stopping people on snowmobiles and ATVs.
The enforcement blitz will continue over the holidays.
“The repercussions of drinking and driving are felt throughout our communities every year in Yukon,” chief coroner Kirsten Macdonald said in a statement released Friday.
“Yukon Coroner’s Service sees first-hand the destruction caused by drinking and driving. We encourage every Yukoner to have a safe holiday season and actively participate in making our roads safe.”
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Comments (22)
Up 11 Down 6
ProScience Greenie on Dec 8, 2016 at 4:53 pm
Oppressive governments only allow privileges to their citizens Mark. Free and democratic governments allow their citizens rights. If those rights are abused by an individual and cause harm to society as a whole or to fellow citizens then those rights become privileges that can be restricted. While harsher sentences are needed let's not get all Big Brother doing so please.
Up 26 Down 23
Mark on Dec 7, 2016 at 5:26 pm
As long as alcohol is glorified like it is in the Yukon, then there will be someone stupid enough to drink and drive. It will never change. Education is not needed anymore, everyone knows it's wrong.
Sentences need to be beyond hard, 1st offence- 5 years with no license and alcohol ban for the same 5 years. 2nd offence-10 years of the same, 3rd year- banned for life from driving and booze for 10 years.
I can hear the drunks whining about this but who cares? If you need booze to socialize....you have personal issues. Driving is a privilege....and yes, drinking is to. Privileges can be taken away.
Up 21 Down 7
June Jackson on Dec 7, 2016 at 3:40 pm
To Smarch: 2 home robberies, 3 vehicle break ins - 3 of these caught on camera and the perpetrator identified and M Division RCMP couldn't arrest anyone? Didn't even bother to come to my door for 2 of them.. so yeah..I have sooo little use for the Whitehorse detachment..
BUT..I take your point until legislation changes we won't see changes on the road...
Also, people are bold these days. Someone posted a couple of weeks ago that their 16 year old daughter was hit by another car...That car stopped, and when she got out of her car, they took off...not the first time I've heard of this. Other people stole the lights off someone's truck..not thieves in the night, but in broad day light before 5: in the afternoon. Brazen.. drunk and impaired driving is right up the entire vehicle crime alley.
Up 17 Down 12
ralpH on Dec 7, 2016 at 3:27 pm
@Stu Winter - I never objected to the enforcement objectives. It just disturbs Me that He takes it upon himself to rate Yukoners habits. The RCMP have a spokesman that can relay those statistics and allow Yukoners to rise up and demand better results. Last thing we need is another SGT. Preston of the Yukon believing they are where the buck stops. Too much of that God like mentality in the public service already.
Up 22 Down 6
Matt on Dec 7, 2016 at 12:17 pm
@ Trevor. It is very easy to lay blame on the judges. But in many cases the judges hands are tied when it comes to sentencing. Due to case law there are guidelines (fairly strict ones in fact). That if the judge imposes a sentence harsher than those in the case law then that is reason for appeal...one that will most likely be won...the laws have to be stiffer from parliament in order for judges to hand down stricter penalties.
@Max - If you go fishing in a lake and catch 3 fish...by your math that means that there were only 3 fish in the lake to be caught. They arrested 3 impaired drivers...yet you don't think that is bad. Do you think the police arrested EVERY impaired driver that drove on the road that weekend in the Yukon? The only way to know that is to stop EVERY vehicle. The truth is they probably only managed to stop a fraction of the cars moving. Probably as low as 1% of vehicles. So 3 impaired drivers out of the cars stopped...represents a much larger issue and the probability of the MANY MANY more cars that weren't able to be stopped...think about the larger picture.
Up 27 Down 7
Max Mack on Dec 7, 2016 at 5:35 am
Three arrests for "alcohol-related" offences and Pollard declares that "we aren't winning by any means." Yet, I hardly see that as evidence of an epidemic of drunk driving. Never mind that, Pollard wants greater powers of enforcement, a lowered standard of "impairment" and greater penalties.
Then, he goes further to explain that fatigue counts as "impaired driving."
What's next? 24-hour suspensions because you "look tired"?
Up 20 Down 29
Erik Nielsen on Dec 6, 2016 at 11:51 pm
This is tantamount to public harassment by the police. Who asked them for this?
Up 28 Down 13
Trevor Braun on Dec 6, 2016 at 7:27 pm
Our judges are a HUGE part of the problem, continually handing out light bs sentences to drunk drivers. At the same time they have no problem throwing the book at folks that break game laws. So backwards...
Up 25 Down 10
Stu Winter on Dec 6, 2016 at 5:40 pm
RapH- "But do we need the morality and temperance tongue lashing from Pollard"
Yes, we need this and we expect him to be polite and professional as he hauls impaired drivers to the holding tank. If he does gives these selfish people a little bit of a tongue lashing as well then that's ok with me.
I saw a person laying beside the road who had been killed by a drunk driver and also know of several others, so drunk drivers have no sympathy from me.
Up 9 Down 6
Matt on Dec 6, 2016 at 5:32 pm
It's only still an issue because the Yukon courts haven't adopted "the Nickelback Sentence"
Up 16 Down 10
Join Canada Police Report website on Dec 6, 2016 at 5:00 pm
See www.canadapolicereport.ca Every province and territory has a link - except Yukon. I sympathize with the RCMP here, but calling a press conference and relying on media to report what's happening is so 1980s. As for publishing the names of people (don't publish names of people charged please) - the newspapers here used to attend court and publish the results of charges and trials, but for some reason that stopped - a violation of privacy? Although it should be a matter of public record.Maybe someone from the Star could comment on that.
Up 29 Down 25
Groucho d'North on Dec 6, 2016 at 12:15 pm
I agree with Dr. Dave. Identify these criminals so that all Yukoners will know who is putting their safety at risk. They are now hiding in plain sight. Perhaps a bit of public shaming would reduce the practice.
Up 17 Down 21
ralpH on Dec 6, 2016 at 7:33 am
Agreed it is a problem and stricter regs should be implemented. But do we need the morality and temperance tongue lashing from Pollard? He could not even wait for all the stats to come in? Just release the numbers and warnings in a general news release. It makes this look like a one man crusade.
Up 25 Down 10
Steve Beaulieu on Dec 5, 2016 at 6:30 pm
I bike to work from Foxhaven once the snow goes. There are hundreds of beer cans off the shoulder of the highway in the spring. If the RCMP think it's a surprise that drinking and driving is still a problem than this is a problem. The problem is obvious.
Up 28 Down 16
Stu Winter on Dec 5, 2016 at 6:20 pm
Pollard also noted, however, that impaired driving extends beyond alcohol and illegal drugs, to include prescription drugs and fatigue.
Pollard also said impaired driving isn’t limited to cars and trucks. He said officers are out on trails in the communities, stopping people on snowmobiles and ATVs.
This sounds really progressive, thank you. Please have the Whitehorse officers do the odd patrol on trails in Whitehorse as well (hint hint- impaired drivers sneaking home between 11 pm and 2 am). If MADD is collecting money I will generously donate for coffee and pizza at the check stops because they are preventing serious accidents and fatalities.
Thank you Cpl. Shawn Pollard and all the officers and other volunteers involved.
Up 10 Down 40
Concerned citizen on Dec 5, 2016 at 5:59 pm
I believe education is the key. Also we need more programs for people with substance addictions. The problem is alcohol abuse. Licensed establishments also need to be held accountable. I've been in a bar where a guy falls down drunk and the waitress helps him up and hands him his beer. I've also seen waitresses take keys and then give them back at the end of the night. What's the point in handing an intoxicated person a set of keys? You never hear bar staff asking if they can call you a cab. I'm not saying it's their fault there are impaired drivers but they don't help by loading someone up with booze and sending them on their way. All bars care about is making money.
Up 22 Down 28
Ninni on Dec 5, 2016 at 5:48 pm
Yes, broadcast who's received impaired driving infractions along with the 24 hr suspensions, etc. we cannot seem to get it thru to people, but this may assist by humiliating them!
Our other issue is those driving stoned - needing the "medicinal pot" for epilepsy, etc. Do they not think they are endangering others on the roads too by not being able to drive with clear reactions - ie not in relax or undue care mode!!! They need to be caught and broadcasted for sure. More excuses to endanger others!
Up 19 Down 10
jc on Dec 5, 2016 at 5:47 pm
Dr. Dave, Human Rights rid that trash from the shame of exposure years ago. But they don't mind the media showing a small child in a body bag that just got killed by a drunk driver or a stuffed toy or child's shoe on the highway.
Up 23 Down 12
smarch on Dec 5, 2016 at 5:41 pm
@juneJackson,
I hate to defend the police, but 24 hr suspensions are sometimes the only recourse the RCMP has to do anything. If a driver blows a warn, they get a 24hr it's not the cops fault. The police are not allowed to charge them. If you want a 0 tolerance it has to go through the government, which will never happen as people will complain that the government overstepped.
I get that we like to bash the cops, and sometimes they deserve it. But come on man, drunk driving is something that fills up the court house, and it makes a lot of lawyers a lot of money as there are so many technicalities to get out of the charge.
Up 34 Down 33
June Jackson on Dec 5, 2016 at 4:06 pm
Driving impaired..it's the age of excuses.. I had to drive, I drank so much I couldn't afford a taxi.. I had to drive, it was too cold out to walk, I had to drive, I only fell down twice, I didn't think I was that drunk... and courts that say.. ooooh..yeah..it was cold that night, $1,000 fine. Oh..yeah.. that kid you killed shouldn't have been walking on the sidewalk at bar closing time..we're taking your license for a year.. except to go to work, get groceries, take your kids to school, and go to the staff Christmas parties.. and the RCMP oh.. you're only a little impaired, 24 hour suspension, go home and sleep it off.
“My honest opinion of impaired driving is we’re not winning by any means here,” Pollard said. Ya think?
Up 38 Down 23
Thomas Brewer on Dec 5, 2016 at 3:42 pm
"Pollard said British Columbia has reduced the number of fatalities and serious injury by streamlining the system and enforcing strict consequences.
Some of these include license suspensions of varying lengths, attendance at mandatory driving programs, and having an ignition interlock system installed so drivers must blow into a breathalyzer before they can start the vehicle."
By 'streamlining' read not legal. BC extremely overstepped their authority and a reasonable judiciary reversed thousands of 'roadside convictions' and chastised the government.
We don't need a repeat of this in Yukon.
Up 43 Down 49
Dr. Dave on Dec 5, 2016 at 3:35 pm
Corporal Pollard you would be doing the public a service by releasing the names and photographs of the people you arrested or suspended for 24 hours. That way we could be on the lookout and give them a wide berth when driving.