Ai4 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 17, 1997 Drinking crivers the target of stepped up police effort IT’S BECOME another Christmas tradition. Those familiar red and blue flashing Lights of the roadside CounterAttack pro- gram have come to signal the start of the holidays al- most as much as crowded stores and Christmas trees. This year will be no ex- ception — it marks the ZOth anniversary of the police program in B,C. For the past two decades, CounterAttack has sought to reduce incidents of impaixed driving on the province’s roads through a series of road checks and public edu- cation programs. Since its inception, some 18 million vehicles have passed through the roadside checks. And it has been quite suc- cessful. When the program started in 1977, an average of 300 people were killed in B.C. each year as a result of drinking and driving. That figure has since been reduced to 146 in 1995. But it’s not enough. Last year, drinking and driving still contributed to about 30 per cent of all traffic fatali- ties. That's why police province-wide, including Terrace RCMP will be cut in full force over ihe holi- days, performing random road-checks from Dec, 8 to Jan. 3. ‘We'll be doing inter- mittent checks at different times of the evening,”’ says Constable J.R. Walker. ‘Mostly they will occur at peak periods between 10 pm. and 4 a.m.. But mind you, we receive complaints about drunk drivers around the clock.”’ Some of those road checks will also involve the in- spector from the Motor Vehicle Branch. He'll be out with the mounties to look for vehicles that aren’t safe to be on the road. “Normally they con- Speed fines rise DRINKING DRIVERS aren’t the only ones who face stronger sanctions for breaking the law. The province has also targeted speeders, red-light runners and other dangerous drivers to try to curb acci- dent rates. As of Dec, 15, fines for speeding increased, in some cases by as much as 270 per cent. Those caught driving less than 20 km/h over the speed limit in municipalities and on highways still face the same $115 ticket. But those caught speeding excessively will now have to dig deep into their wal- lets, It used to be that the high- er fines only kicked-in if drivers were crising at 40 kin/h or more above the legal limit. Now those driv- ing 21 km/h over the limit will face extra fines on a. Sliding scale that increases with speed, ‘At 21-40 km/h over the fines have changed to $173, while at 41-60 km/h over they have gone to a whop- ping $345, Those driving more than 61 km/h over the limit will pay the maximum of $460. In school, playground and construction zones, the new fines ure even higher. While the top fines are the same, those driving 1-20 kan/h over the limit will now be slapped with a hefty $173 fine and those going 21-40 lani/h over the limit will pay $230. ICBC statistics indicate that December is one of the worst months for automobile accidents, Last year the number of accident claims in December reached a five-year high of 81,265 — that’s 2,500 claims every day. Those numbers translated to nessly 10,000 injuries and 39 deaths. CONSTABLE TRENT Johnson examines a car's wheelwell for rust during a recent CounterAttack roadblock. While police are always on the search for drink- ing drivars, the roadblocks also give them the opportunity to check the road- worthiness of vehicles. centrate on commercial vehicles,’ Walker says. '*So this gives them a chance to check out private vehicles,”’ Walker says the inspector will not be examining every vehicle, just those that look pretty rough. Cars that are 15-20 years old or appear damage are likely candi- dates, “Visually and audibly they usually speak for them- selves,’’ Walker says. ‘‘We target the worst of the worst.”’ Terrace RCMP have al- ready held one joint vehicle inspector\police road check earlier this month. Con- stable Trent Johnson says they examined about 20 vehicles. “Some were towed off the road immediately,’’ he says. “On one vehicle, the rear portion of the frame was completely rusted out. The back end would have just crumpled in an accident.’ Johnson says the police Gated “98 GMC Safari 190 hp 4.3 litre engine, 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive, am/fm cassette, deep tinted glass, chrome grilla, seating for &. 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