Police activity numbers for the first quarter of 2004 reflect the OPP’s focus on traffic safety and enforcement, OPP S/Sgt. Hugh Dennis said during a report to town council here Monday night.
S/Sgt. Dennis told council 167 charges under the Highway Traffic Act had been laid as of March 31—well up from the 105 laid at this time last year.
Meanwhile, the number of accidents is down across the district so far in 2004 (129 versus 144 at the same time last year).
In total, there were 620 motor vehicle accidents in the district in 2003.
Twelve of the accidents so far this year involved personal injury while 18 did over the same time in 2003.
In other news, six charges were laid under the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act so far this year, down from the nine laid during the same time period last year.
S/Sgt. Dennis stressed the OPP tried hard to educate the public late last year in all aspects of automobile safety—from wearing seatbelts to preventing aggressive driving.
Subsequently, police have stepped up traffic enforcement this year, resulting in more charges yet, at the same time, seeing fewer accidents and injuries—hopefully a sign the education component is working, too, he noted.
S/Sgt. Dennis said the public should be aware that safer driving not only lowers insurance costs for everyone and saves taxpayers’ money, but, more importantly, prevents injuries and saves lives.
“An accident can affect you forever,” he remarked. “We’ve got to stop this carnage.”
Meanwhile, police have issued more parking tickets in Fort Frances between Jan. 1 and March 31 (132) compared to only 85 over that same time last year.
There also have been 74 charges laid under the Criminal Code so far as opposed to 54 by this time in 2003.
S/Sgt. Dennis noted some of this difference in numbers is due to the OPP’s “zero tolerance” when enforcing the law on Scott Street, adding numerous charges have been laid in the downtown area in recent weeks.
“And the public can expect that presence and enforcement to continue,” he stressed.
Four charges have been laid so far in 2004 under municipal bylaws (compared to two at this time last year), and there have been 47 charges under the Liquor Licence Act in the first three months of 2004 versus 42 a year ago.
Police have generated $2,870 in revenue so far this year in the form of criminal record checks, traffic accident reports, and other administrative services.
This is up from last year’s first-quarter total of $2,510.
S/Sgt. Dennis also noted the Fort Frances detachment currently is at full complement, with 18.42 constables, 2.15 sergeants, and one detachment commander (himself).
Cst. Steve Maki resigned recently from the Fort Frances detachment, but he has been replaced by Cst. Brent Jackson, formerly of the Emo detachment.
In the first three months of 2004, the OPP here has logged 8,500 policing hours. This is down from last year’s first-quarter total of 8,861.
The Fort Frances OPP is contracted to provide 30,474 hours of service this year.
Later this year, a new initiative for the local OP will be the “Drive Wise” program aimed at mature drivers.
An educational program to be carried out by Community Services Officers Cst. Dereck McLean and Caroline Spencer, “Drive Wise” is meant to “allow seniors to drive safer and longer,” noted S/Sgt. Dennis.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
