The RCMP West District Traffic Services seven member highway patrol unit report a busy long weekend during the Dauphin Countryfest.
Beginning on Wednesday evening, the unit conducted a number of check-stops on Highway 5 and Highway 10. As a result of Dauphin Countryfest a significant increase in traffic is seen on these highways over the weekend.
Police say that a total of 416 charges were laid under the Highway Traffic act, approximately 350 of which were for speeding. Some extremely high speeds were encountered over the weekend, including 130 km/h in a 70 km/h zone in the Village of Riding Mountain and 143 km/h in an 80 km/h zone in Riding Mountain National Park. One person was charged under the Criminal Code for dangerous driving after weaving in and out of traffic at 153 km/h.
RCMP report that the unit charged two people for impaired driving. An additional five charges were laid under the Criminal Code and three charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. There were also two 24-hour suspensions issued for drivers with a blood alcohol content between .05 and .08.
Police say that a significant number of these charges involved traffic going to or coming from Dauphin Countryfest. The remainder involved local traffic. There were no serious motor vehicle collisions in western Manitoba over the weekend.
