It’s a recurring problem — and Tuesday’s police report from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary only served to highlight that. The report, which the police issue every morning, lists significant arrests made by the police — and in this case, every single item the police reported included two particular issues. See if you can spot them.
Here are the cases, as described by the RNC:
File 2017-70601
2017-11-27 At 1:54 p.m. RNC Patrol Services conducted a traffic safety stop in the C.B.S. area and determined that the driver, a 32-year-old male, was operating while under suspension. He was issued a summary offence ticket and released but his vehicle was impounded.
File 2017-70588
2017-11-27 At 12:47 p.m. RNC Patrol Services conducted a traffic safety stop in the C.B.S. area and found that the operator, a 61-year-old male, was operating while under a Canada-wide prohibition. He was arrested at the time and charged for driving while disqualified. The accused was also issued summary offence tickets for operating while suspended, operating without insurance and failing to transfer ownership. He was released with a future court date, his vehicle was impounded.
File 2017-70566
2017-11-27 At 11:09 a.m. RNC Patrol Services conducted a traffic safety stop in the centre city area and found that the operator, a 35-year-old female, was operating while suspended. She was released with a future court date, her vehicle was impounded.
File 2017-70694
2017-11-27 At midnight, RNC Patrol Services conducted a traffic safety stop in Mount Pearl resulting in a 30-year-old male being arrested for public mischief, and an outstanding warrant after he provided a false name. He was also ticketed for driving while suspended and failing to obey novice driver regulations. His vehicle was impounded, and he was held for court in the morning.
File 2017-70700
On 2017-11-28 at 3:30 a.m. RNC Patrol Services responded to a neighbourhood in the east end of the city after receiving a report of a suspicious vehicle. The vehicle in question was located abandoned in the area. It was determined that the vehicle in question had been reported stolen. The RNC K-9 unit attended scene and shortly after a 23-year-old male was taken into custody. He is charged with possession of stolen property, driving while prohibited and leaving the scene of an accident. The male was transported to the lockup and will make a court appearance in the a.m.
The issues? Suspended drivers and impounded vehicles.
Something to think about: suspended drivers and drivers without insurance are arrested almost every day. They pile up fines they apparently have no intention of paying, sometimes totalling tens of thousands of dollars, and simply go out, get another vehicle, and do it all over again.
There has to be a punishment that works. Otherwise, it’s all just a revolving door, and a danger to everyone who drives legally.
