During the months of January, February and March of this year, as outlined in Community Peace Officer (CPO) Chelaine Regehr’s quarterly report, the highest number of traffic tickets issued were due to speeding. The Town of Tofield contracts Peace Officer services through the Town of Vegreville, and Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Jeff Edwards says it has been this way for upwards of eight years.
CPO Regehr’s responsibilities include animal control and licensing, unsightly properties, noise complaints, traffic control, curfew regulations, and smoke free town facilities.
Under the heading ‘Community Standards,’ which is defined by Tofield’s Bylaw No. 1308, Regehr left six notices to maintain snow, six notices to entry, and 16 door knockers. In her report, Regehr said not as many notices were issued and posted due to the fact that there was not as much snow during this quarter.
Under ‘Animal Control’ Regehr dealt with one complaint of dogs barking, three complaints of dogs at large, and two dog welfare checks.
“For all dog complaints, owners were educated and made changes to improve the situation. In one instance a ticket was given after multiple attempts to re-educate, and the behaviour has since been corrected,” Regehr wrote in her report.
Under ‘Other’ Regehr listed two assists to the general public, three assists to Town staff, three unsightly properties, four parking complaints, and one bylaw ticket. Under ‘Traffic Tickets,’ 12 tickets were issued due to speeding, four for operating unregistered vehicles, one for an uninsured vehicle, one failure to obey a traffic control device, one seatbelt ticket, one distracted driving with the use of a handheld device, and one ticket for passing a school bus when the red lights were flashing and the stop sign was out.
Tofield Town Council discussed the quarterly report at their last regular meeting held Monday, April 8, and Mayor Deb Dueck says she is pleased with CPO Regehr’s presence within the town.
“I am quite impressed with her visibility in the town, and I think it makes a difference. It’s like a deterrent. People are aware that she’s around,” Dueck said.
Councillor Norm Martineau brought up discussion on what is termed as a ‘J’ turn, where vehicles are traveling one direction, but drive across the centre line on main street to park on the opposite side, which Regehr had mentioned in her report. Council agreed that the subject of the next Council Corner should be on this topic, to inform the public that such behaviour is illegal and carries a fine of $243.
Complaints can be made by calling the Town Office, but if it is an urgent complaint, call 911.
Kari Janzen
Staff Reporter
