Police slap 2,800 charges on unsafe drivers during Victoria Day long weekend

CALGARY – Unsafe drivers were slapped with more than 2,800 charges during a Victoria Day long weekend crackdown.

Between Friday, May 21 and Monday, May 24, RCMP and sheriff traffic units across the province ticketed roughly 2,370 speeding drivers.

Officers also charged 154 impaired drivers and issued 14 24-hour suspensions.

Other weekend charges include:

• 102 seatbelt infractions;

• 27 child restraint infractions;

• 57 Gaming and Liquor Act violations;

• 55 failing to stop at a stop sign infractions;

• 29 other hazardous violations (e.g. careless driving, stunting); and

• 300 non-hazardous violations (e.g. no insurance, suspended drivers).

The long weekend is the unofficial start to summer and lures thousands of campers out of the city to take advantage of outdoor adventures. Authorities say there were far fewer campers this year, partly due to chilly weather and a booze ban in some provincial and national campgrounds.

More information to come.