Sault Ste. Marie traffic blitz very successful

Results of 3-month traffic enforcement initiative Did the Sault Ste. Marie Police blitz have the desired impact? Jairus Patterson reports.

If you got a ticket in Sault Ste. Marie over the last three months, you're not alone.

The police service was on an all-out blitz, targeting unsafe drivers.

Back in February, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service warned people of an upcoming blitz aimed at unsafe drivers and they lived up to their promise.

Monday morning, the police service announced how many tickets were handed out and the number might suprise you.

Back in February, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service warned people of an upcoming blitz aimed at unsafe drivers and they lived up to their promise.

Sean Sparling is the Deputy Chief of Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.

"Based on the community complaints, we created a team of officers. We dedicated three officers to do traffic enforcement. So, they are out here laying charges, mostly moving violations, the ones that cause accidents." said Sparling.

They say from February to May, the three officers handed out 1,400 tickets and let nearly 400 people off with a warning.

Ray Magnan is a Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Sergeant.

"Approximately 1,900 charges were laid, various highway traffic act charges, including some criminal code charges for driving as well, and suspended drivers, and intersection related charges, speeding, distracted driving, all the areas that concern us." said Magnan.

The police say this traffic blitz was a direct result of seeing an increase in collisions last year.

"The biggest thing was intersections. Well over 200 charges for intersections specifically. That's something we targeted after we saw an increase in motor collisions the previous year of 200. We wanted to target that specifically and that intersection number reflects that, both stops signs and light controlled intersections." said Magnan.

Police also say that Gore and Albert Street was the worst intersection in the city for collisions last year, but didn't have a single one so far this year.

Sonny Spina is a constable with Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.

"We launched this initiative right at that intersection because we knew it was one of the intersections in town with the highest rate on collisions. We know for a two-month period, that collisions were down to zero. Zero collisions at that intersection for two months and that is wildly successful for us." said Spina.

Police say this blitz is one of the most successful ones in recent history.

If collisions spike again, the service says it will not hesitate to have another blitz.

Sergeant Magnan also says during this blitz, phone calls complaining about bad drivers decreased dramatically.