After nearly a month-long process, Rocky View County (RVC) has announced its peace officers are now able to enforce highway traffic safety.
After RVC council previously endorsed the item, an application was sent to the Alberta Justice and Solicitor General’s office, which approved the application on May 19, just in time for the recent May long weekend. As per the approval, RVC peace officers are now permitted to enforce the Traffic Safety Act on all roads within the county’s limits.
“Until now, our efforts were restricted to County roads and secondary highways,” said Lorraine Wesley, manager of Rocky View County’s Enforcement Services department. “Many residents were frustrated by the County’s inability to deal with dangerous driving practices on highways, even when they happened right in front of a patrol car.”
According to a County press release, the new scope allows RVC peace officers to pull over motorists guilty of speeding, distracted driving, running stop signs and other Traffic Safety Act violations on any road, including primary highways.
“Traffic rules are in place to ensure public safety, and that remains the focus of our efforts,” Wesley said. “Tickets are 100 per cent avoidable if people simply follow the rules of the road.”
Wesley added that, prior to the approval of RVC's application, the RCMP and sheriffs were the only officers who were able to monitor the county’s primary highways.
“Now, it is all enforcement branches within the municipalities that have applied for it,” she said.
The County sees the change as positive, according to Wesley, as the issue has previously been a longstanding issue with residents.
“We can now better meet the needs of all of our residents,” she said. “It is also important for residents to remember to follow the rules of the road.”
Jordan Stricker, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @Jay_Strickz
