Hay River RCMP are urging locals to watch their speed in the area, after a recent incident of two individuals caught excessively speeding.
Hay River officers have been conducting traffic enforcement patrols in the last few days to help support the South Slave firefighting efforts. As a result, a number of drivers have received speeding tickets with large fines attached.
On Sunday, September 24th, Hay River officers pulled over two drivers along Highway 1 for driving at high speeds. Both drivers were stopped within ten minutes of the other. The first driver was traveling at the ludicrous speed of 162 km/h in a 90 km/h zone. Once he was pulled over, he was immediately issued a mandatory court appearance to answer for his speed.
The second driver was clocked in at 140 km/h, which resulted in the maximum fine possible for speeding. Both of these incidents occured while fire crews were working in the area, and where signs had been posted asking drivers to reduce their speed.
The RCMP reminds drivers that speeding continues to be an issue around the Territory, and is a significant contributor to traffic accidents. They state that there is no justification for traveling at reckless speeds and doing so in the presence of fire fighters is even more egregious. Drivers should also remember that in some circumstances, high speeds may result in criminal driving charges. The safety of the fire crews and all those using the highway is a priority for the RCMP. Officers around the territory will continue to patrol roadways and enforce driving laws.
