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Citizens Patrol out to act as deterrent

The Salmon Arm Citizens Patrol (SACP) are hitting the streets this summer to keep tabs on motorists who do not obey speed limits
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On patrol: Gene Nedila of the Salmon Arm Citizens Patrol records the licence plates of passing cars along the Trans-Canada Highway on Monday

The Salmon Arm Citizens Patrol (SACP) are hitting the streets this summer to keep tabs on motorists who do not obey speed limits.

SACP’s speed watch volunteers use radar-triggered speed information boards that display motorists’ speeds to them, on the sides of city streets and the highway running through Salmon Arm.

The volunteers record the speeds of passing vehicles and supply ICBC with their records and run plates in search of stolen vehicles.

ICBC uses the information gathered by speed watch volunteers to co-ordinate enforcement with the police said ICBC spokesperson Michelle Hargrave.

SACP volunteers Sue Kershaw and Gene Nedila, who were operating a speed information board near the bottom of Tank Hill in a 50 kilometres per hour zone were surprised by what they saw.

“There have been six people in the last hour over 70 km/h. That is worrisome,” Kershaw said.

Kershaw said that the highway speed watch runs about once a week from April to September before the focus shifts to school zones in Salmon Arm.

“We’re here to be proactive. We’re a deterrent,” Kershaw said.

SACP volunteers also patrol vulnerable areas of Salmon Arm and Canoe, provide traffic and crowd control during community events and assist local emergency services during civil emergencies.

 



Jim Elliot

About the Author: Jim Elliot

I’m a B.C. transplant here in Whitehorse at The News telling stories about the Yukon's people, environment, and culture.
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