Editor:
Re: ‘Enforcement is lacking’ Aug. 11 letters
I agree that more enforcement is necessary on North Bluff/16 Avenue, but lets think broader.
There were 913 traffic stops conducted between January and June in White Rock this year, and 2,599 last year.
A good portion of those were on North Bluff Road, and the officers seldom get thanked. Many of the intersections on North Bluff Road would be ideal for highly visible speed/red-light cameras to dramatically change driving behaviour.
A citizen-led request to council to fund a dedicated proactive road safety constable is also an option. Officers have an obligation to prioritize criminal investigations, respond to calls of distress, prepare judicial authorizations, wait in emergency rooms, and provide a frontline mental health response service.
Criticizing the police for doing all this while still making time for road safety enforcement is demoralizing. Critical examination of policing is a good thing, and I’m grateful to have those conversations with residents where facts and pragmatic solutions advance public safety.
Kale Pauls, White Rock RCMP Detachment Commander