SASKATOON – After the numbers from the latest SGI traffic blitz were released, it seems Saskatchewan drivers still haven’t got the memo.
Just over 400 tickets were handed out across the province last week during June’s “Operation Hang Up, Buckle Up.” That number is up from May’s traffic blitz of 356 tickets.
“There’s always two components to it, the educational end and the enforcement end and we’ll continue to work on both so that we get that message out there, that we got to be safe,” said Staff Sgt. Tony Nadon, Saskatoon Police Service Traffic Unit.
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In Saskatoon, the numbers were similar to previous stops. Eighteen people received cell phone tickets, while 24 were ticketed for seatbelts infractions.
Construction season is in full swing and during the two-day initiative; six people were ticketed in orange zones in Saskatoon. The government is reminding drivers to ‘save a life’ by slowing down to 60 km/h when in construction areas around the province.
Fines have been bumped up this year in construction zones.
“This year the fines have increased to $210 as a base fine and then $3 for every km over for 30 km over and then above that it’s $6 above that, I believe. So the fines can get pretty high pretty quickly,” said Cpl. Jeff Friedenstab, Saskatoon RCMP Traffic Services Unit.
Ten km over results in a $300 ticket, while driving 100 km in a construction zone is a $530 fine.
The provincial government and RCMP are cracking down to make the roads safer for both drivers and workers with higher enforcement in construction areas over the next few days.
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