MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - The county’s community peace officers issued 372 tickets totalling $112,000 in 2022, according to the latest legislative, community and agriculture services report.
The community peace officer 2022 annual report was presented at the Feb. 8 council meeting, outlining operational practices, scheduled and file management for the municipality’s three peace officers.
The officers are employed to protect county infrastructure, to maintain safety on rural roads and to enforce county bylaws.
In 2022 officers responded to 551 incidents: 100 for bylaw inquiry/complaints, two for commercial vehicle overload, 26 county bylaw, 357 for speeding, 18 for traffic other (such as tinted windows, no insurance or registration), three stop sign offences, 43 land use bylaw and two wastewater bylaw.
The three county peace officers are authorized to enforce the Dangerous Dogs Act, the Environmental Protection an Enhancement Act, the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act, and the Traffic Safety Act.
Of the 372 tickets issued in 2022, four were in the Bearberry/Coal Camp neighbourhood, 15 in Bergen, 72 in Dogpound, 14 in Eagle Hill/Westward Ho, 23 in Fallentimber, 26 in Hainstock, 47 in Jackson, 12 in Lonepine, seven in McDougal Flats, eight in Midway, 13 in Netook, one in Reed Ranch, 32 in Rosebud, 18 in Water Valley, 69 in Wessex, three in Westcott and eight in Westerdale.
In 2021, officers issued a total of 525 tickets.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a notable impact on enforcement numbers in 2022, council heard.
“The program has seen a dramatic decrease in traffic stops over the past year which is indicative of the economy and COVID,” said Chris Atchison, director of legislative services. “Bylaw complaints and inquires have also seen a decrease from the previous year.”
The officers’ coverage is seven-days a week on a rotational basis, with the hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“Variance from these schedules is done from time to time to address specific operational concerns. Peace officers are also required to be on designated on-call shift on a rotational basis on days that no officer is scheduled to work an able to respond to any emergency related to county business. Peace officers are compensate for all on-call hours and all overtime is pre-approved.”
Although all officers were equipped with OC spray (oleoresin capsicum, also known as pepper spray) and batons, no incidents of use of either occurred in 2022, the said.
Fines issued by peace officers are divided between the province and the county: victims of crime receive 15 per cent, the province 26.67 per cent, and the county 58.33 per cent. Any late charges that are applied are paid entirely to the province.
Council received the 2022 annual community peace officer report as information. The report will now be forwarded to Alberta Justice and Solicitor General as required under provincial legislation.
