Speed bumps are deterring lead-footed drivers on Beach Avenue in Peachland, according to the RCMP.
At its May 20 meeting, council heard that portable speed bumps installed for the summer have led to a noticeable drop in speeding.
乌鸦传媒淢any times the best thing you can do when you have a speeding or enforcement problem is to change the environment in which people drive,乌鸦传媒� explained Cpl. Tyrone Wilton of the West Kelowna RCMP.
Wilton, one of two municipal traffic officers covering West Kelowna and Peachland, told council that 68 tickets and warnings have been issued in Peachland since March 1.
乌鸦传媒淭he majority of offenders we do encounter are from Peachland, primarily on Beach Ave.乌鸦传媒攁bout 90 per cent,乌鸦传媒� he added.
The speed limit on Beach Ave. is 30 km/h, but Wilton said officers have recorded speeds as high as 60 to 65 km/h.
乌鸦传媒淭hose were few and far between,乌鸦传媒� he noted. 乌鸦传媒淭he majority of the time we are targeting people once they hit 50 km/h.乌鸦传媒�
Wilton乌鸦传媒檚 team also conducts regular enforcement along Highway 97, with two dedicated patrols per day in addition to coverage by general duty officers. He added that even the presence of a police vehicle can influence driver behaviour.
Staff Sgt. Brendan Dolan also addressed council, noting that one general duty officer per shift is assigned to patrol Peachland.
乌鸦传媒淲e dub them the sheriff of Peachland,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 their duty乌鸦传媒攖hey come down here and do active patrols and ensure a visible presence in the community.乌鸦传媒�
When asked whether police presence would increase over the summer, Dolan said patrols have already expanded since he arrived in West Kelowna in 2024.
乌鸦传媒淎s far as expanding beyond that, you乌鸦传媒檙e getting good service at this point in time,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淗aving said that, if an issue arises which would require more police presence, we will absolutely be there.乌鸦传媒�
Dolan added that residents have noticed the increased visibility.
乌鸦传媒淥bviously that乌鸦传媒檚 us being receptive to the community survey.乌鸦传媒�
Mayor Patrick Van Minsel agreed.
乌鸦传媒淚 have noticed more police presence, as have our residents, and I think that乌鸦传媒檚 a deterrent on itself.乌鸦传媒�
Van Minsel also alluded to other concerns in the community.
乌鸦传媒淲e had a short discussion just before we started here,乌鸦传媒� he said to Dolan. 乌鸦传媒淏ut there乌鸦传媒檚 a plan in place I think乌鸦传媒攜ou know about it乌鸦传媒攁nd you will take care of it.乌鸦传媒�
The mayor did not elaborate on what those other challenges were.
