CARLYLE - I’ve previously ranted about seatbelt use during my time in Moosomin but it seems the same problem exists here around Carlyle.
On July 1, 1977, it became mandatory to wear seatbelts in Saskatchewan. Nearly half a century later and some people still forget to put their seatbelt on. This is made worse by the fact that most newer model vehicles ding constantly if the seatbelt is not in use.
I’ve listed the 10 best “terrible” excuses that I have heard that won’t save you from getting a ticket:
1. “I’m a careful driver. I don’t need a seat belt.”
2. “Wearing a seat belt makes me feel restrained.”
3. “Seat belts are uncomfortable.”
4. “I forget to buckle up sometimes.”
5. “I’m too big or tall to wear a seat belt.”
6. “I’m not travelling very far or very fast.”
7. “I want to be able to exit the car quickly.”
8. “I don’t want to get stuck inside the car during a crash.”
9. “Seat belts cause injuries during crashes.”
10. “I’m driving a bigger vehicle that will protect me in case of a crash.”
Vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of death in North America, so please just save yourself the $175 ticket, multiple points on your licence, and possibly your life and buckle up.
There were 26 traffic tickets issued in the Carlyle detachment area in the past week. The highest ticket of the week award went to a male travelling 139 kilometres per hour on Highway 13 near Carlyle, with a speed limit of 100 km/h.
The male received a $562 ticket. There is no excuse to drive 40 or 50 km faster than the speed limit. I hope this driver learned his lesson.
On Dec. 28, Carlyle RCMP received a call advising of an abandoned vehicle a few kilometres south of Arcola. The vehicle was a traffic hazard as it was blocking traffic. Members called for a tow truck and the vehicle was removed from the scene.
That same day, the RCMP received a call in Redvers of an unwanted intoxicated female refusing to leave a residence. RCMP attended the residence and arrested the female. She was removed from the residence and released to her family in the community.
On Jan. 3, Carlyle RCMP received a complaint of an injured moose near Highway 9 at Carlyle. The Ministry of Environment was dispatched to the scene to put the moose down if needed.
On Jan. 3, Carlyle RCMP received a complaint of a theft that occurred from Second Chance Thrift Store in Carlyle. The theft took place when approximately $2,600 worth of merchandise was stolen from two sheds located near the rear of the building. Carlyle RCMP is requesting anyone with information about this incident to contact the RCMP at 306-453-6707. Information can be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 or submitting a tip online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
Several frauds took place this week involving a male and a female committing credit card fraud. They purchased $1,700 at King’s Department Store in Carlyle and did not physically have, but rather tried to provide, a credit card number over the phone. The same people were responsible for obtaining lodging at a hotel in Carlyle in which they left without paying and rented a van. Anyone with information about this incident to contact the Carlyle RCMP.
On Jan. 4, Carlyle RCMP responded to a two-vehicle collision at a rural intersection near Steelman. The collision took place when an adult male driving a Ford F150 failed to yield at a yield sign and t-boned an adult female driving a Chevrolet 1500. The male was charged $230 for failing to yield. The female was transported to hospital to be assessed but should make a full recovery. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.
On Jan. 5, Carlyle RCMP were responding to an assault in the area when they came across an injured male in a ditch near where the complaint originated. The male was found digging in the snow without gloves or proper winter clothing. RCMP acted quickly and provided the injured male with shelter and transported him to the hospital for both his injuries and possible frostbite to his extremities. RCMP then returned to the residence and arrested a male for multiple criminal charges. He was transported and booked into RCMP cells. Carlyle RCMP is requesting anyone with information about this incident to contact the detachment.
On Jan. 6, Carlyle RCMP received a call advising that an intoxicated female had left her residence and was not dressed properly for the -35 C weather. Officers located the intoxicated female stumbling on the road. The female was then arrested for being intoxicated in public and earned one free night stay at the RCMP Vacation Inn. The female was released the following day when she was safe and sober with no charges.
On Jan. 6, Carlyle RCMP received a call of an unwanted intoxicated person acting up at a residence on White Bear First Nations. RCMP attended and arrested the unwanted person and escorted them to RCMP cells for the night. The homeowner was very thankful police removed the unwanted person but did not wish to pursue any charges against the individual.
On Jan. 9, Carlyle RCMP received a complaint of an adult female driving impaired in Carlyle. RCMP located the female, who was now back home inside her residence. RCMP arrested the adult female who was noticeably intoxicated and read her the breath demand. Officers then transported the female back to the detachment where she provided two samples of her breath that confirmed she was intoxicated by nearly three times the legal driving limit. It will still need to be proven in court that the female was in fact impaired at the time she was driving but with impaired rates as high as they were, I don’t think that will be a problem.
Scam of the week
This week’s scam is referred to as Sextortion and seems to becoming more and more common with today's social media, such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Scammers create fake profiles on social media accounts and dating websites. They use these profiles to lure victims into a sexual relationship and coerce them into performing sexual acts on camera.
Often these scammers will have very attractive women or men on the other side of the video performing sexual acts to add credibility. The scammer records these video and photo sessions and threatens to send the images or videos to all your friends and family unless you pay them or provide more sexual content.
I have dealt with these scams where victims have sent money and then once the money is sent and received they demand more money. Whether you send money to the victim or not the scammer can still send the video to your friends and family members on the social media. The victims of these crimes usually feel immense pressure to pay the scammer as they do not want the embarrassment of their spouses, family or children seeing the video. Please be safe online.
It’s okay not to be okay!
Carlyle RCMP responded to several mental health calls this week. The mental health calls varied from people with dementia, people suffering from drug and alcohol psychosis, to people suffering from depression. We want to encourage everyone to reach out for help and talk to someone if they can.
No matter how bad things may seem remember that they will always get better. Life can be very difficult to say the least. Please reach out and check in with friends, co-workers and family see how they are doing. It’s a perfectly normal question to ask people how they are doing. Don’t let people suffer in silence.
If you see someone that you believe needs some help but won’t accept help from you, please let the police or their family know. Help is also available 24 hours a day at Canada’s Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566.
