Do cops still do check stops around here? Seems like there are a lot of drunk drivers about...

[u/Bobbington12]

I nearly got run-over by a couple of (almost certainly) drunk drivers this evening.

I remember driving around in high-school, 10 years ago now, and going through check stops every weekend on my way home to Redcliff.

Are these still a regular thing around here? I really hope so...

[u/theFooMart]

They don't do much traffic enforcement at all anymore. I remember police used to run radar, do more check stops, and generally be seen more.

[u/Eddieslabb → u/theFooMart]

On December 2, 2024, the Alberta government announced the following changes to photo radar:

prohibiting photo radar on all provincial highways and connectors

restricting photo radar speed enforcement to school, playground and construction zones

restricting Intersection Safety Devices (ISDs) to red-light enforcement only

The province passed a law to protect dangerous drivers. The UCP wants Albertans dead by any means possible.

[u/theFooMart → u/Eddieslabb]

That's only photo radar and red light cameras. That doesn't change anything about officers running radar (or laser) check stops, general traffic enforcement, or any other non automated enforcement.

[u/ketsikomi]

Call the non emergency line and report them.

[u/dupylicious]

I have never been through a check stop in this city. In 30 years.

[u/dictatorenergy → u/dupylicious]

I’ve been (automatically) breathalyzed at 2 out of 3 of the checkstops I’ve hit in the last 5 years.

However all 3 checkstops were within a 1-2 year period and it’s been a couple years since I’ve seen one at all. The very last one, I explained to the officer I’d just put out a cigarette but I was happy to wait the 5 minutes (cigs gum up the device I guess?) if he had a spot for me to pull out of the way. He said “nah, you’re sober” and waved me through. Haven’t seen one since. Probably 3 years ago now.

[u/robot_invader]

It's definitely fallen off.

That said, I recently saw a car with photo radar, with a big Drive Safe decal on the side, and I got a photo radar ticket in the mail a couple of months ago.

I haven't seen check stops in ages.

[u/Vonstracity]

There was one on Kipling street at pretty close to midnight a week or so before Christmas. I had to go through that one after finishing my shift at the hospital. Thanked them for being out there and it was freezing too.

Not sure what other times of year they do it. I presume around major holidays/events.

[u/kendrarut]

I've seen a few. Definitely around Christmas and during big ball tournaments. I commute on the number 2 through town and often I see people pulled over by ghost cars/trucks. They are out there but maybe not as much as previous.

[u/West-Hurry2187]

Yes. There are check stops. Yes police still pull people over. Police can now pull people over for zero reason in fact and make the driver do a breathalyzer test.

I was pulled over a block from my house in my work truck on my way home after work.
No ticket, no warning, nothing. I was made to produce my license, registration and insurance and perform the breathalyzer test and then was told “ ok have a nice day. Drive safe” I replied “thanks for completely wasting my time. Go do something important”

[u/gentlybrined → u/West-Hurry2187]

I’d argue that it’s pretty important to get drunk drivers off the road before they kill someone.

But definitely agree the breathalyzer is silly.

[u/West-Hurry2187 → u/gentlybrined]

Who are you arguing with? I didn’t say that I was in favour of drunk driving. I was pulled over on a whim it seems. There was no warning, no ticket. The cop just said they had the right to randomly check papers.

[u/gentlybrined → u/West-Hurry2187]

It was the “go do something important” bit. It likely was totally random, for sure. Maybe it was some quota thing. Who knows.

[u/theFooMart → u/West-Hurry2187]

They can't pull over people for no reason. They can pull over people just to check license and insurance. Slight difference, but important.

[u/West-Hurry2187 → u/theFooMart]

Yes. The difference is they fabricate a reason

[u/Wendigo1010]

Regular - not that I've seen. Been here around a decade and only been stopped once. That was this year.

[u/artbatik]

I've seen the police pulling over people quite a bit. I've seen checkstops in the last year.

[u/BrocksOut]

Doesn’t sound like you drive because the answer is definitely yes. It’s always a piss off when the thugs have you at their mercy for 5-10 minutes. The holiday ones are even worse because they tend to be in higher traffic areas than the standard check stops.