The Airdrie Integrated Traffic Unit (ITU) charged two people with impaired driving during an enhanced check stop between 6 p.m. on Dec. 14 and 3 a.m. on Dec 15 in the Cremona and Airdrie areas on Highway 22 and Highway 2.
A 25 year old woman from Red Deer and a 48 year old man were both charged with impaired driving. Each had their licenses suspended and their vehicles were impounded for three days.
The ITU also issued one 24-hour driving suspension to a 17 year old male who was driving under the influence of drugs.
Two drivers, driving with suspended licenses, were apprehended and one driver was charged with speeding over 50 km/h over the posted speed limit.
Numerous traffic tickets were issued for a variety of infractions including not wearing seatbelts and distracted driving.
These enhanced check- stops are a step up from the standard check stops RCMP conducts during the holiday season and are funded by the Government of Alberta.
ìFor this one, we did it over the weekend it (was) more large scale,î said Jason Graw, Sgt. Airdrie ITU. ìNormally weíre out with three or four cars, but for this enhanced check stop we had seven officers, all with their own cars out there.î
ITU officers started out on Highway 22 in Cremona before moving to Highway 2 in Airdrie, Graw explained that was standard practice with check stops.
ìWe have a large area to cover, so we move around so that weíre not neglecting certain areas,î he said.
ìAlso with things like social media, people get wind of check stops pretty quickly and theyíll avoid them so we like to move around to ensure that weíre grabbing as many cars as we can.î
Check stops will be in place throughout the holiday season, and Graw expects that there will be a few more enhanced check stops as well.
ìWe will be out there in a number of different locations,î he said, ìDrivers can expect to see us quite frequently.î
If you have information on any unsolved crime, contact Airdrie RCMP at 403-945-7200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
