ASSINIBOIA, Sask. — From school-zone safety and speeding to fraud prevention, Assiniboia RCMP are reminding residents to stay alert as fall gets underway.
Christine Poirier, DSA, with the Assiniboia detachment tells the Assiniboia Times that the Coffee with a Cop community engagement activity went really well.
“We had about 50 people attend. It was a gorgeous morning and it was only supposed to go to 11:30 but we had people here until after noon. Reception from the town was great and we plan to do another one next year,” Poirier added.
The RCMP remind residents of important safety tips now that school is back in session. School-zone speed limits are 30 km/h and a speeding infraction will result in a loss of three demerit points on your licence, as well as a fine. The reminder is continual, but the importance of not passing buses while loading and unloading passengers in a school zone protects everyone involved.
Speed limits aren't suggestions; RCMP remind drivers to slow down
Assiniboia’s RCMP detachment also outlines this important message in its quarterly newsletter: “We know life is busy and you’ve got places to be, but you still must obey the speed limit. From June through August there were 111 speeding tickets issued in the Assiniboia Detachment area. Of those 111 infractions:
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32 were for going 25-34 km/h OVER the posted speed limit
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12 were for going 35 km/h OVER the posted speed limit
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2 were for passing Emergency Vehicles at a speed greater than 60 km/h
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1 ticket was issued for 50 km/h OVER the posted speed limit. This individual’s vehicle was subsequently towed and on top of the speeding ticket they were issued an additional ticket for Driving without Due Care and Attention resulting in a whopping $1,434 in fines (not including towing/storage fees) and a loss of 8 demerit points.”
As a reminder to all Assiniboia and area residents, posted speed limits are as follows:
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Main highways — 100 km/h
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Secondary highways — 90 km/h
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Grid roads — 80 km/h
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Assiniboia, Limerick and Mossbank town limits — 40 km/h
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Rockglen town limits — 50 km/h
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Situational limits — construction or school zones
Saskatchewan has seen an unprecedented number of fatal highway crashes this year. Please slow down, buckle up and pay attention.
For those who have witnessed a traffic infraction and want to know how to proceed, complete details are outlined in the most recent RCMP newsletter.
Stop the scam before it strikes; RCMP urge fraud awareness
Were you one of the dozens of people who received a text message this summer saying you had an outstanding traffic ticket and were due in Provincial Court the next day, or else? You were not alone.
“The messages seemed to be sent out in the masses one day a week for 3-4 weeks. Sometimes we had up to four people at the front counter at the same time all with the exact same text message on their phone. This message was being sent out provincewide which prompted several warnings from the RCMP and several Municipal forces. Things to note:
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SGI does not keep phone numbers on file
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If you receive a camera ticket it will come in the mail
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No court system — traffic or provincial — will send you a text message.”
Another important reminder is that the STARS lottery wrapped up at the end of August and winners were posted on its website, with winners being notified by mail. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from the STARS lottery, ask yourself first: did you buy a ticket? Because this lottery has already concluded, it is best to hang up immediately and call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. You do not need to contact the detachment unless you have lost funds.
“F” Division Call Back Unit
In 2023, Saskatchewan RCMP looked to explore and implement ways to help strengthen front-line policing amid staffing shortages. This led to the establishment of the “F” Division Call Back Unit (CBU). The CBU supports front-line members by assisting with managing non-urgent calls for service where there is no risk to public safety or peace officers. The help of the CBU allows members to:
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Commit to and concentrate on significant criminal investigations within their communities
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Increase time for front-line members to be away from the office, thereby enhancing police visibility and community outreach within their communities and ultimately assisting in crime reduction.
Types of files that the CBU assists with are:
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Frauds and scams under $5,000
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Mischiefs under $5,000
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Property lost/found/stolen under $5,000
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Traffic offences not in progress
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Harassing phone calls or e-communication
They are also responsible for files reported using the division's Online Reporting Tool. If a file falls outside the mandate of the CBU, it is reassigned to the detachment for investigation.
More details about the CBU can be found in the quarterly Assiniboia RCMP newsletter.
“We would like to kindly remind everyone to please make an appointment for your Criminal Record checks. This is one of our busiest seasons for checks and by booking an appointment we will be sure to be able to accommodate everyone. We take appointments between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., except for Monday and Friday, when we are closed over lunch (noon to 1 p.m.).”
Another important reminder: if you have information regarding a crime in Saskatchewan, you can submit an anonymous tip in one of the following ways:
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Online — www.saskcrimestoppers.com
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Call — 1-800-222-8477
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App — Download P3 Global Intel Top Management Software on your mobile device (available on both Apple and Samsung devices)
If your tip results in information leading to the arrest and solving of a crime, you may receive a cash reward of up to $2,000. Calls are not traced or recorded and callers do not have to identify themselves. The tips you provide may assist your local detachment in reducing criminal activity.
