Olds RCMP is seeing an increasing number of motor vehicle violations at town crosswalks.
“We are receiving many complaints of motor vehicles not stopping at crosswalks,” said Olds RCMP Cpl. Chris Peden, adding the crosswalk at the four-way stop intersection at 54 Street and 57 Avenue is especially problematic.
“There are an increasing number of complaints before and after school, of motorists not stopping for pedestrians. People are still driving through them.”
He noted the provincial statute for failing to yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk calls for a $575 fine for motorists who are in violation.
“If a complaint is received, a licence number recorded and a citizen is willing to go to court, a motor vehicle owner can be issued a ticket even if he or she was not in the vehicle at the time. They are responsible,” said Peden.
Drivers busted for drinking
A Manitoba man is facing drunk driving charges after being stopped by Olds RCMP last week.
The 20-year-old man was spotted by police at about 3:20 a.m. near the intersection of 50 Avenue and 46 Street.
He was arrested and charged with impaired driving and driving with a blood-alcohol level over .08.
RCMP allege the man had twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system when he was stopped.
He will appear in Didsbury provincial court on Oct. 31.
Olds RCMP also stopped an Airdrie man near the intersection of 49 Avenue and 48 Street in the early morning hours of Sept. 30 on suspicion of impaired driving.
The 25-year-old man was driving with a Graduated Driver's Licence, a program designed to improve road safety by creating a low risk, controlled environment for new drivers, regardless of age. There is zero tolerance under the program for any alcohol in a driver's blood system.
Olds RCMP Cpl. Chris Peden said a breath sample was obtained from the man and he was issued a 30-day driving suspension ticket, which included a $230 fine.
