Mud flap infractions highlighted in RCMP report to Vauxhall town council

Nikki Jamieson
Taber Times
njamieson@tabertimes.com

Mud flaps, or the lack thereof, are a universal problem in rural Alberta.

During the monthly RCMP delegation in Vauxhall town council’s regular Jan. 18 meeting, Sgt. Kevin McKenna of the Taber/Vauxhall RCMP mentioned ticketing inadequate mud flaps as part of the 17 non-moving violations in the Vauxhall traffic report, causing everyone to pay attention as they inquired whether or not there were rules regarding them.

“We see a lot of vehicles without (mud flaps),” said Margaret Plumtree, mayor of Vauxhall. “Usually that’s when I get dinged.”

Mud flaps have to cover the width of the tire to stop debris from flying backwards. Most cars don’t need them, as the fenders cover the wheels, but trucks are required to have them.

“Typically, where the problem is that people put bigger tires on them what the vehicle is designed for,” said McKenna.

In the month of December, there is generally more traffic enforcement done due to the higher risk of people drinking-and-driving.

This year, it led to a high number of non-moving violation tickets being issued – 17 compared to just three last year – on offences such as missing documentation, tinted windows or inadequate lighting.

“There was more enforcement done in December,” said McKenna. “Just because that’s our higher time of the year. So the guys are encouraged to do a lot more traffic that month. We do it all year, but we try to do more of it during the month of December.”

Other items in the December traffic report include:

* Two speeding tickets
* Three other moving offences
* One seatbelt infraction
* One other provincial act/statute violation

Additionally, items in the detailed monthly report for December dropped to 16 from 25 in December 2014, as follows:

* One break and enter
* Two mischief complaints
* Four other criminal code/other statute offences
* One assist to police/other agencies/general public
* Two 9-1-1 hangups
* One suspicious person/vehicle
* One traffic complaint
* Two administrative files

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