An impaired driver was caught going at an excessive speed on Highway 97 - as part of the 115 calls to service the 100 Mile House RCMP responded to between June 18 and June 25, according to Sgt. Brian Lamb.
Lamb said the incident occurred on June 20, when BC Highway Patrol conducted "radar speed enforcement" on Highway 97 near 90 Mile House. Officers reported they saw a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed, with radar stating the vehicle was going 173 km/h - in a posted 110km/h zone.
They stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver while making observations of alcohol consumption and open liquor containers. The driver was then given a breath demand - with the driver cooperating and subsequently failing, Lamb said. The driver was issued an immediate roadside prohibition from driving for 90 days, with his vehicle being impounded for 30 days - alongside him being given a violation ticket for excessive speed over 60km/h as well as for having open liquor in a vehicle.
Three other incidents involving drunk driving occurred on June 20 and June 21. The first incident on June 20 involved a patrol in the downtown area where Lamb said "a vehicle was observed that stalled into an intersection on Birch Ave" - with the RCMP noting mismatched license plates prompting them to conduct a vehicle stop. Lamb said officers saw the driver showing signs of alcohol consumption, as well as had made admissions to "recent consumption." The RCMP say the driver gave a sample of his breath to a screening device which resulted in a fail. The driver was subsequently given an immediate roadside prohibition from driving for 90 days and had his vehicle impounded for 30 days.
On the same day, another incident occurred while the RCMP were conducting a patrol on Highway 97 near 108 Mile Ranch. Officers saw a vehicle "not maintaining its lane and observed to be continually swerving from one lane to another," Lamb said. After the RCMP stopped the vehicle, Lamb said they saw alcohol consumption symptoms on the driver and demanded a breath test. The driver gave the breath test, which he subsequently failed. The driver was also given an immediate roadside prohibition for 90 days with his vehicle being impounded for 30 days.
The final impaired driving incident that is said to have occurred happened on June 21, when the RCMP said they received a report of an "erratic driver on Cedar Ave which had apparently gone into a ditch." The RCMP attended and located the vehicle and driver - with the RCMP saying they saw alcohol consumption. The RCMP say they demanded a breath test, which the driver did and failed. The driver was subsequently issued an immediate roadside prohibition from driving for 90 days, with his vehicle being impounded for 30.
On June 19 RCMP received a report of a vehicle that was involved in a collision with a fence on the 6000 block of Highway 24. RCMP say they attended to the vehicle, located in a wooded area, where they found a black 1998 Honda Civic. RCMP say this is the same vehicle that was reported as stolen from 100 Mile House in September of 2023, and subsequently, the vehicle was destroyed. The RCMP say the vehicle was in the location "for months."
Lost licence plates were a factor in a June 23 incident, when the RCMP hey were conducting a patrol on Highway 97 near Lac La Hache. The RCMP saw a vehicle and after conducting queries, found that there was a reported lost licence plate.
The RCMP stopped the vehicle and the driver was known to them as being prohibited from driving. Lamb said the RCMP then arrested the driver and was later released "to appear in court at a later date." In addition, the RCMP issued the driver a ticket for not having any insurance.
RCMP received a report of a theft from a business located on Adler Ave on June 24. The RCMP say that on June 22, a Caucasian male in his mid-sixties with a blue shirt and black pants got out of a silver GMC truck, took a leaf blower and placed it on his truck before driving away. Lamb said it is possible that the male might not have intentionally stolen the item.
Lastly, drugs played a role in a June 24 incident, when the RCMP found a male and female in a vehicle either sleeping or under the influence of something while parked at a parking lot on Highway 97. After the RCMP spoke with the male, they determined he had care and control of a motor vehicle while impaired by a drug.
The RCMP did not say which drug it was the male was impaired with. The RCMP subsequently issued a 12-hour suspension from driving, and gave him a violation ticket for having no valid driver's licence.
The RCMP say that those with information about those incidents and more should call them at 250-395-2456 or anonymously 24 hours a day at Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at bccrimestoppers.com.
