Members of the Airdrie Integrated Traffic Unit (AITU) laid 246 provincial and criminal charges over the Victoria day long weekend.
Over the weekend, four people were given 24 hour suspensions for alcohol and one person received a 24-hour suspension for drugs. In addition, six-alcohol-related charges and two illegal drug related offences were laid.
Police charged drivers with seven construction zone, eight distracted driving and 11 seat belt offences.
Police laid 158 speeding-related charges and two charges for drivers speeding in excess of 50 kilometres over the legal limit.
In addition to these charges, AITU officers also arrested four people on outstanding warrants, investigated seven non-injury motor vehicle collisions and responded to 45 emergency calls on Highway 2.
In 2011, AITU laid 245 charges over the May long weekend.
Drug bust
The AITU seized 75.5 grams of marijuana after a routine traffic stop and arrested a 19-year-old Calgary man for drug trafficking, May 20.
Around 5:15 p.m., members of the AITU stopped a Honda Civic travelling 30 kilometres per hour over the speed limit, south of CrossIron Mills mall.
The driver was unable to provide identification, and the officer became suspicious and arrested the driver.
The vehicle was then searched, leading to the discovery of 18 individually wrapped bags of marijuana, which were seized along with three cell phones, $230 in cash and various drug paraphernalia.
The man has been charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, and is scheduled to appear in Airdrie Provincial Court on July 19.
“One of the top priorities of our Integrated Traffic Units is intercepting travelling criminals as our officers have done in this case,” said Sheriff Jason Graw, of the AITU.
“Undesirables that traffic drugs use our highways just like the rest of us, so when our officers are out on patrol we make sure to take every opportunity we can to bring these people before the courts.”
Other AITU priorities include monitoring speed and aggressive driving, occupant restraints, impaired driving, intersection safety and holiday long weekend enforcement.
Traffic charges
A 24-year-old Airdrie man was served with a court summons for driving 193 kilometres per hour heading south on Highway 2 near Airdrie, May 16.
The incident happened at 1:17 p.m.
A 25-year-old Calgary man was arrested when RCMP officers responded to a call about a possible impaired driver on Highway 2 near Crossfield, at around 1:30 p.m., May 18.
Breath samples revealed the man’s blood alcohol level was two-and-a-half times the legal limit. All the vehicle occupants exhibited signs of impairment.
On the same day, officers clocked a vehicle travelling at 162 kilometres per hour in the posted 100 kilometre per hour zone on Highway 9 near Beiseker. RCMP also clocked a vehicle driving 131 kilometres per hour in a construction zone on Highway 2 north of Crossfield.
If you have information no any unsolved crime, call Airdrie RCMP at 403-945-7200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.crimestoppers.ab.ca
