Police training more officers for traffic enforcement
More officers with the North Bay Police Service are being trained in the use of radar and lidar for traffic enforcement.
Officials say lidar uses a focused pulsed laser beam of infrared light and has twice the range of radar, which uses radio waves.
Police say radar is often used by officers when their vehicle is moving while out on patrol, while lidar is used when a police vehicle is stationary.
Over 30 officers have recently been trained in using both.
“The addition of 31 radar- and lidar-trained officers greatly increases our ability to keep our streets safe and ensure motorists are following the rules of the road,” says Jeff Warner, Inspector of Operations. “We have also seen a number of steep fines being laid for distracted driving.”
November’s enhanced traffic enforcement campaign saw officers lay seven charges of distracted driving involving a hand-held communication device.
Police say each charge comes with a $615 fine on the first offence, as well as three demerit points, a three-day licence suspension upon conviction and a $281 licence reinstatement fee.
They say if a driver challenges the ticket in court and loses, the fine can increase up to $1,000.
Warner says their dedicated traffic officer has only been in the role for a few months but is already making a significant difference on the streets of North Bay and with the police service.
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