'Traffic Without Border' Patrols coordinate to educate
by Cherri Crockett Rumford Falls Times April 29, 2011
MAINE/CANADA- As part of the coordinated launch of the Traffic Safety Without Borders operation that took place on Friday, Oxford and Franklin County deputies, Maine State Police, as well as New Hampshire State Police and Coos County deputies met with Quebec Provincial Police at the Maine/Canada border in Coburn Gore for a press conference.
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| Oxford County Sheriff Wayne Gallant, right, with Lt. Daniel Campagna, director of the Quebec Police. |
With the difference in laws between the two countries, law enforcement wanted to collaborate in order to better educate motorists traveling on both sides of the borders as to their responsibilities while visiting each country. The traffic safety campaign took place in Canadian districts that share common roads with the United States from Maine to New York.
“Since 2006, the Surete du Quebec has studied and analyzed each car accident,” stated Chief of Granite County Quebec, Daniel Campagna. “We target the time, the place, the violation; all to find out how we can reduce death on the highways. We have a shared priority with the United States to extend those operations across the border to educate, prevent and communicate each of our countries intentions in reducing the horrible statistics on our highways.”
A couple of the major differences in laws between Canada and the Northeast United States, for example, cell phone useage and the legal drinking age. It is illegal in Canada to use a cell phone without the use of a headset, where as, in the U.S., drivers are allowed to use them, but will be sited if they seem to be distracted while using a cell phone.
In Canada, the legal drinking age is 18, causing a problem if they decide to cross into the U.S. This seemed to be the number one concern among troopers and deputies that were present at Coburn Gore.
“The majority of motorists coming into the United States through ME and NH are headed for Old Orchard Beach,” noted Gerald Marcou of Coos County Sheriff's Office, NH. “They need to realize that we're not here to hammer down on the public, we're here to educate them.”
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An Ontario motorist is seen here being briefed by Sgt. Tim Holland during a safety checkpoint located on Rt. 26 in Newry Friday. Motorists were stopped for roughly 30 seconds to ensure they had a valid drivers' license and they were wearing their seatbelts, among other safety issues. They were also being made aware of the Traffic Safety Without Borders operation. |
While speeding is another major cause for concern between the countries, it is “the biggest offense we come across,” noted Sheriff Wayne Gallant of Oxford County. “There are too many accidents with deer and moose, and motorists need to be more aware. We want to make our roads safer and the only way we're going to accomplish that is to be visible and be willing to educate.”
Before departing Coburn Gore, it was mentioned that not only are U.S. and Canadian officials making history with the coordination of this cross-border safety operation, but that U.S. officials were also allowed to carry their firearms while on the Canadian side of the border during this event only.
“U.S. law enforcement are not allowed to carry their sidearms while in Canada,” noted Lt. Todd Landry of the New Hampshire State Police. “Even if we have a detainee to transport to New York or Maine and it's quicker to cross the border to get there, we have to relinquish our firearms.”
Following the press conference in Coburn Gore, deputies of the Oxford County Sheriff's Department and the Maine State Police coordinated two safety checkpoints; one on Rt. 16 in Magalloway Plantation and the other on Rt. 26 in Newry, two major corridors for border-crossing traffic.
Coordinating the Rt. 26 checkpoint was Sgt. Tim Holland, Dep. Mike Halacy, Cpl. Justin Brown, Sgt. Tim Ontengco, Trooper Gregory Tirado and Cpl. Brian Landis.
With orange cones set down the yellow line and blue lights flashing on their emergency vehicles parked on the side of the road, officers proceeded to stop each vehicle passing to both the north and south. The officers asked the motorists for their drivers license while checking that each passenger was buckled up, and simultaneously educating them on why they were performing the checkpoint.
The most common of the violations throughout the six-hour operation was the lack of adhering to the seatbelt law.
With license plates from Maine, New York, New Hampshire, Quebec, Massachusetts and various other states, motorists seemed, for the most part, patient for the slight delay in their travels. Each routine stop taking no more than 30 seconds if the motorist was in compliance, and longer for those that were in violation.
I took a moment to talk with Dep. Mike Halacy. I inquired as to what the protocol is if things go wrong during a check. For instance, if someone had a gun in their vehicle, how would that be handled.
“Most people are pretty compliant and tell us right up front that they have a gun inside. Normally, they're hanging in the back window. We ask for their concealed weapons permit and go from there. That situation doesn't happen too often. Each stop depends on how the driver handles it. You never know what you may get when you pull someone over.”
During the six hours spent on Rt. 26, the officers stopped more than 200 motorists, wrote out about a dozen tickets for seatbelt and other misdemeanor violations, and arrested two men for the more serious violations of operating after suspension and operating without a license. With one having warrants for his arrest out in other states, as well as operating an unregistered, out-of-state vehicle.
After putting a drug dog on both vehicles, arresting officers Cpl. Brian Landis and Dep. George Cayer had the illegal vehicle towed and the other was driven away by a legally-licensed passenger in that vehicle.
In regards to Traffic Safety Without Borders operation, Sheriff Wayne Gallant stated, “I think this was a great way to kick off the spring summer season with a safety campaign that involved law enforcement from both countries. What a great collaborative safety effort without borders. This will continue throughout the year between all these law enforcement partners.”
Police agencies will meet again in the coming weeks for a debriefing to sort through the information obtained.