Dec 11 - Sobering thoughts about driving

Good morning !

Two stories about driving today. The first deals with what you shouldn’t do (see the poll below for a hint) while the second is about what many James Bay residents feel the city’s police should do.

— Mark 

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ⛅ 6 / 4  

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 6 / 5

Friday: 🌧️ 7 / 5

7-day forecast

NEWS

Police remove record numbers of impaired drivers from CRD roads

On 580 occasions, Saanich police officers have had to instruct a pulled-over driver to hand them their keys so far this year.

Metaphors aside—it’s now mostly keyless entry and ignition—that’s a record for the municipality since BC brought in the Immediate Roadside Prohibitions program in 2010.

Under the IRP program, right on the spot, officers can take away a driver’s privilege—which it is, it’s not a right—to drive for one, three, seven, 30, or 90 days, depending on the severity of the infringement.  

“In early September, we surpassed the total number of impaired drivers taken off the road in all of 2023, which was 468,” said Saanich Police Cst. Martin Roznowski.

With the holiday season just beginning, those numbers are only going to go up.

In three months to begin the year, RCMP in the Westshore took 53 impaired drivers off the road, an increase of 17%.

In Victoria, VicPD is on pace to pull driving privileges from 300+ people who foolishly decide to drink or do drugs before getting behind the wheel. So far this year, 277 have chosen so poorly before driving within Victoria city limits.

“With many options to get home safe (rideshare, public transit, taxi, a buddy, your dad), there really is no excuse to get behind the wheel when impaired by alcohol or drugs,” a VicPD spokesperson tells Capital Daily.

Just something to keep in mind as the yuletide festivities ensue and police departments from Langford to Victoria to Saanich prepare to intensify their impaired-driving enforcement programs.

Read Sidney Coles’ full story here. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Missing teen: Chloe Hunt, 15, was last seen in Colwood on Dec. 8. [RCMP]

Current public works construction in Victoria.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

Support local journalism by supporting Capital Daily. Become a Capital Daily Insider member today and help bring local stories to life. 

NEWS

James Bay residents say lower speed limits no good without enforcement

The city is slowly becoming slower. Speed limits are being reduced left, right, and centre.

In James Bay, this is being seen as a good thing—but only if VicPD can send a few squad cars often enough to establish deterrence. Otherwise, the speed reduction is no more than a bunch of numbers on a tin sign that drivers hardly notice as they zoom by. 

Not the exact words from the James Bay Neighbourhood Association, but close.

“While the JBNA supports the city's policy to reduce speed limits on residential streets, the proposed changes do not reach far enough,” says Trevor Moat, the JBNA president.

The JBNA conducted a traffic study and found what’s also needed to minimize the amount of speeding going on in Victoria’s oldest neighbourhood is for police to patrol two particular streets. 

That, and maybe some good old technology. 

Read Mark Brennae’s full story here. 

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🏒 Stanley Cup coming March 30, part of the celebration of Victoria Cougars 1925 championship season.

🎧 There are amazing people in our community and you need to hear their stories. The Vital Victoria Podcast spotlights positive changemakers in Victoria. Listen today!*

🎵🏒 Write a Victoria hockey song: Win $5K. [Century Celebration]

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📕 Jason Stevens’ take on Dickens’ Christmas Carol opens today at Craigdarroch Castle.

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🗞️ In Other News

Caught on video: Man attacks student near Esquimalt High 
A video posted anonymously on Facebook shows an adult man fighting what appears to be a 15-year-old student just steps from the school during lunch hour last Fri. Students say they were sitting outside when a white pickup truck speeding down the street came to a stop. The driver got out, started yelling at the boy, and began beating his face. The boy walked away with minor injuries. Victoria police say the man has been arrested, with charges pending. SD61 says the man is not affiliated with the school. [CHEK]

BC woman who impersonated a nurse, including in View Royal, apologizes in court
On the final day of her sentencing hearing, a tearful Brigitte Cleroux apologized for treating —under pretenses—899 patients in Metro Vancouver and at the View Royal Surgical Centre. Cleroux, 49, has pleaded guilty to 11 counts, including fraud and impersonation, in her time as a post-anesthetic care nurse where she prescribed sedatives, including fentanyl. The woman has served half of a seven-year sentence for similar crimes she committed in Ontario. The BC Crown wants her to face eight more years for the crimes she committed in this province. [CTV]

Victoria’s Syrian community celebrates ‘sweet’ stop to Assad rule back home
Syrian people living in Victoria treated themselves this weekend, after former president Bashar al-Assad’s 54-year regime ended, along with the 13-year war. Damascus Food Market in Quadra Village is owned by Syrian immigrants. It sold an estimated 250+ boxes of baklava and a host of other sweets over the weekend as the market became a hub for Syrians looking to discuss the developing news from home. [Times Colonist]

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SPONSORED BY BELFRY THEATRE

What's on at the Belfry this week

Last week, the Belfry Theatre opened the hit comedy Mom's the Word: Talkin' Turkey. It is selling very well and will close on Dec. 22.

Hapax Theatre opens its new show, The Drowning Girls, in the Belfry's BMO Studio this Thursday.

Head to the website to learn more and to get tickets.

🗓️ Things to do

🎹 The Piano Man: Hear improvised songs and stories about the life of the Piano Man, Dave Morris at Intrepid Theatre. Tonight. 8pm. [Info]

🤝 Victoria Resilient Women in Business Networking Event: Mingle with other women leading the future of business in the city at Bayview Place. Today. 3pm. [Info]

🎶 Lorraine Nygaard: Hear some jazzy holiday tunes from the singer and her fabulous band at Hermann’s. Tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

🎭 Sense and Sensibility: See students from the Canadian College of Performing Arts take on Jane Austen’s beloved tale of love and family this weekend. Opens tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

🎄 Jon and Roy Holiday Special: The beloved local band will host its annual holiday show at the Royal Theatre, with special guest M. Ward, Anna Tivel. Sat. 8pm. [Info]

🚒 🧑‍🎄 View Royal Annual Santa Drive: Fire trucks will cruise around VR neighbourhoods to collect non-perishable food and cash donations for Goldstream Food Bank. Sat. 9:30am-2pm. [Info] 

🎸 Fishbone: Red Hot Holiday Tour: The LA band will play its fusion of rock, reggae, ska, funk, punk, and soul. Capital Ballroom. Sun. [Info]

☀️🧑‍🎄 Breakfast with Santa: 2-8 guests per table. Photographs with Kris Kringle. On-site printing is available. Oak Bay Beach Hotel. Sun. Also Dec. 22 & 23. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Tuesday’s headlines: City reducing speed limits on 55km+ of pavement; CRD ponders deer problem on Mayne Island; Duncan woman sued in midwifery mess; And more. [Dec. 10]

Bowker Creek: troubled waters a mystery. [Capital Daily] 

Electric buses to hit Victoria streets in the spring. [CHEK]

John Horgan memorial tickets available. [Livestream on Sun.]

A grebe’s journey back into the wild: [MARS Wildlife rescue video]

A small shark—presumed to be a brown cat shark—washed up on Qualicum Beach. [Facebook photos]

That’s it!

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