Lake Cowichan RCMP got some help from the highway patrol division to nab nearly two dozen impaired drivers over the August long weekend.
The area was a hot spot with the Sunfest Country Music Festival, as well as cabin getaways, camping and river tubing.
The Lake Cowichan detachment was expecting “higher than normal traffic volume.”
RCMP enforcement netted 23 impaired drivers. Another six were ticketed for excessive speed. In total, officers issued 111 tickets over the long weekend and 21 vehicles were towed.
The minimum fine for excessive speed is $368 and three points on a drivers’ licence, plus towing and impound fees.
Impaired drivers face immediate driving prohibitions ranging from 24 hours to 90 days, plus towing and impound fees.
While I am concerned about number of people found driving impaired over the weekend, I was also very impressed by the large number of people who came through our road checks using designated drivers or shuttle services to ensure they got home safely,
said Sgt. Adam Tallboy, acting commander of B.C. Highway Patrol on Vancouver Island.
Highway patrol units from Chemainus and Parksville assisted in the enforcement.
