RCMP issue rewards instead of tickets

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This article was published 10/12/2014 (3417 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Several motorists in Steinbach were surprised by Steinbach RCMP when they were handed a “free ticket” as a reward for coming to a complete stop at stop signs. Police monitored the three-way stop on Loewen Boulevard by the medical clinic.

Staff Sgt Harold Laninga commented on the difficulties they were having with handing out the coupons to a local restaurant because most motorists were rolling through the stop signs.

“Close to 75 to 80 percent slowed down but didn’t come to a complete stop,” Laninga reported. “No tickets were issued but we talked to more than 400 people about their driving behaviour and let them know what the requirement is.”

A complete stop is described as having the vehicle completely stopped for three seconds before proceeding. Motorists who did not stop completely were also informed that they could have been at the receiving end of a fine reaching beyond $200 as well as two demerits on their driving license.

Instead of issuing fines, police issued coupons from Dairy Queen, Taco Del Mar, Subway, A & W and McDonald’s.

“We feel this was a successful campaign. We raised awareness by promoting that we were running this campaign and now we were able to further the education by speaking to individuals about the importance of coming to a complete stop.”

One motorist who failed to stop at the intersection on Loewen Boulevard knew she had failed and admitted it to the officer before he had a chance to explain why he was there. She continued on by explaining to her children in the vehicle about the importance of obeying traffic signs and the consequences of failing to do so.

While she did not receive any coupons, she escaped a fine.

Steinbach RCMP covered five intersections today and handed out 140 rewards for complete stops.