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Powell River cops quell ticketing rumours

Social media spreads exaggerated reports of police presence
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TICKET TALK: Reports of a wave of RCMP ticketing residents were greatly exaggerated, according to the local detachment. Peak file photo

Rumours of 100 rookie RCMP officers descending on Powell River handing out traffic tickets for the slightest infraction has no basis in fact, said Powell River RCMP constable Tim Kenning.

Over the past week, social-media postings from Powell River reported drivers have been pulled over and given tickets for drinking coffee while driving, having a dented licence plate and other seemingly harmless incidents.

“Is that the one where there’s 100 officers in town and they are here all summer?” said Kenning. “I read that, too. All of that is just 100 per cent not true.”

Kenning said there were not 100 officers in town and there was not any training exercise being conducted, but there were three or four officers in town, part of a provincial traffic enforcement unit called North Island Traffic Services.

He added that it is common for the unit to come to town a couple times per month for a few days to do traffic enforcement and that Powell River was not being singled out in any way.

“I can confirm there was a traffic-enforcement unit in town,” said Kenning. “They were enforcing the Motor Vehicle Act; that’s what they do full time.”

There was not any new members to the unit, said Kenning. “It was just the same crew,” he said.

Powell River resident Chris Mazzelli said that he has heard many reports of residents being unfairly ticketed.

“They’re not giving warnings,” said Mazzelli. “They’re just ruthless.”  

Mazzelli admitted that he had not had any personal encounters with the officers in town.

“I don’t know who fabricated that rumour or where it came from,” said Kenning.

BC RCMP have been conducting a province-wide distracted-driving campaign.