Dauphin’s Countryfest is over for 2012 and RCMP report having a busy weekend with an estimated 1,000 vehicles being checked each day.
From June 27 until July 1, officers responded to approximately 16 calls for service at the Countryfest site, with the majority of those calls being disturbances involving intoxicated people.
Traffic enforcement in the Dauphin area during this time period resulted in two people being arrested for impaired driving, at least 132 people being charged with speeding, 60 people charged with other offences under the Highway Traffic Act and 32 people charged with having open liquor. There were also six 24 hour licence suspensions issued. Twenty-three people were lodged in cells for being intoxicated.
In 2011, there were 30 calls for service, five people charged for impaired driving and approximately 20 people charged with offences under the Highway Traffic and Liquor Control Acts. Forty people were lodged for being intoxicated.
In addition to the regularly scheduled checkstops for the event, additional officers were brought in to man 4 additional checkstops which were sponsored by Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI). A total of seven check stops were conducted from June 28 to July 1. An estimated 1,000 vehicles were checked each day and although some motorists were charged, many expressed their appreciation for the officers’ presence.
