I live in Grandin Village in St. Albert. Over the last few months, a peace officer has taken a strong interest in ticketing traffic violations in this area.
While I have not received a ticket, nor has anyone in my household, I find this peace officer’s methods unacceptable. I actually welcome the presence of the officer in the area, and even welcome his ticketing of motorists as Sir Winston Churchill Avenue sometimes resembles the Indy 500. So you may ask, what is your issue then?
My issue is how the officer goes about performing his work. The officer pulls into the left-hand turning lane at the entrance into Grandin Village Phase I, turns all of his lights off and waits. This lane is a driving lane! Further, the officer tends to do this at night when visibility is lessened. This entrance also happens to be at the end of a bend in the road so one looking to make a left turn has even less time to see the obstruction.
Add in the trees and light poles blocking the view of the lane, as well as the fact he tends to park towards the rear of the turning lane and this is a recipe for disaster. I have phoned our local RCMP detachment on at least two occasions to complain about this activity; once was after nearly hitting the officer. I have been told the officer is there on a “complaint.” I have since seen the officer there in the same circumstances on several occasions.
Our city and law enforcement officials continue to tell us that traffic enforcement is all about safety. If that were truly the case, these actions would stop immediately. I have a feeling the officer is just doing too well to stop using this tactic.
Brendan Curley, St. Albert
