Image: City of Chilliwack video / Upper Fraser Valley RCMP Superintendent Davy Lee speaks at Tuesday's Chilliwack City Council meeting.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack RCMP

Chilliwack RCMP officers issue 47% more Motor Vehicle Act tickets YTD in 2024 than a year ago

Oct 22, 2024 | 4:02 PM

CHILLIWACK — Contrary to the belief that police aren’t enforcing speed limits or the use of cell phones while driving, Chilliwack RCMP traffic members have been writing a lot more tickets in 2024 year to date than the same period in 2023.

According to a presentation at Tuesday’s Chilliwack City Council meeting by Upper Fraser Valley RCMP Superintendent Davy Lee, Chilliwack RCMP has recorded 2,309 Motor Vehicle Act charges year to date in 2024, a whopping 47 per cent increase over the 2023 figure of 1,574 charges over the same time period.

“There’s some misinformation, I think, that traffic efforts were lower over the summer,” Supt. Lee said. “However, as the stats show, we have approximately 40 per cent more traffic violations. Charges reflect proactive enforcement for every ticket given…[and] are the direct result of members actively enforcing traffic laws. Our efforts have remained focused on increasing visibility to changing driving behaviour.”

Image: Chilliwack RCMP via City of Chilliwack / Road safety stats from the Chilliwack RCMP showing a 47 per cent increase in the number of Motor Vehicle Act charges year to date in 2024 versus the same time period in 2023.

Police say the Motor Vehicle Act in British Columbia provides the rules and regulations that the RCMP enforces to ensure road safety. It encompasses key areas such as speed limits, impaired driving, proper use of seatbelts, and the licensing requirements for drivers. The RCMP say their job is to ensure everyone follows these laws to protect drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. When motorists break these rules, police have the power to issue fines, penalties, or, in serious cases, suspend licenses, all with the goal of maintaining road safety for everyone.

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Police continued to target the use of cell phones and other devices by drivers. Chilliwack RCMP recorded 142 electronic device charges in 2024 year to date, an 87 per cent increase over the same period in 2023.

“Frankly, we also have the right people in the right roles doing the right jobs,” Supt. Lee said. “So it’s not just a matter of filling in the roles as we have a few good traffic members out there passionately wanting to do their job.Traffic is more self-driven; you have to go look for the violations.”