(CHATHAM, ON) Over the August long weekend, the Chatham-Kent Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received 58 calls for service in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
There were various calls for service consisting of a vehicle fire, traffic complaints, traffic enforcement, traffic hazards, R.I.D.E., marine and motor vehicle collisions.
On July 30, 2016, around 2:00 a.m., Chatham-Kent Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was dispatched to a vehicle on fire on Highway 401 near Communication Road.
The fire, which was contained to the engine compartment, was extinguished and the vehicle was towed from the highway. There were no injuries reported.
On July 30, 2016, around 11:30 a.m., a Chatham-Kent Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer was on general patrol, on Highway 401 near Charing Cross Road, when he observed a vehicle committing a traffic violation.
The vehicle was stopped and upon further investigation, the male driver, Warren MEEKS, 34-years-old of Inkster, MI, was charged with Drive Motor Vehicle with Speed Measuring Warning Device contrary to the Highway Traffic Act.
On July 30, 2016, around 11:55 a.m., a Chatham-Kent Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer was on general patrol, on Highway 401 near Charing Cross Road, when he observed a vehicle committing a traffic violation.
The vehicle was stopped and upon further investigation, the male driver, Johnny LOUIS, 24-years-old of Key West, FL, was charged with Drive Motor Vehicle with Speed Measuring Warning Device contrary to the Highway Traffic Act.
On July 31, 2016, around 11:30 a.m., a Chatham-Kent Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer was on general patrol, on Highway 401 near Kent Bridge Road, when he observed a vehicle committing a traffic violation.
The vehicle was stopped and upon further investigation, the male driver, Kazi SIDDIQUI, 43-years-old of Carol Stream, IL, was charged with Drive Motor Vehicle with Speed Measuring Warning Device contrary to the Highway Traffic Act.
On July 31, 2016, around 4:30 p.m., a Chatham-Kent Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer was on general patrol, on Highway 401 near Mull Road, when he observed a vehicle committing a traffic violation.
The vehicle was stopped and upon further investigation, the female driver, Judy HO, 46-years-old of Arlington, TX, was charged with Drive Motor Vehicle with Speed Measuring Warning Device contrary to the Highway Traffic Act.
On July 31, 2016, around 5:30 p.m., Chatham-Kent Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a motor vehicle collision, involving two vehicles, at the intersection of Highway 40 and Highway 401.
Upon further investigation, the female driver, Jennifer BUTZER-GOETZ, 44-years-old of Chatham was issued a provincial offences notice and charged with: start from a stopped position – not in safety, contrary to the Highway Traffic Act.
On July 31, 2016, around 9:45 p.m., a member of the Chatham-Kent Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) while on general patrol, on County Road 1 near Wheatley Road observed a black Chrysler committing a traffic violation.
The vehicle was stopped and upon further investigation, the male driver, James DRUMMOND, 44-year-old of Tilbury, Ontario, was charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle and drive motor vehicle with more than 80 milligrams of alcohol in blood, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada.
The accused is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on August 16, 2016 to answer to the charges.
On August 1, 2016, around 10:15 a.m. a member of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was conducting RADAR enforcement on Highway 401 near Duart Road when he observed a westbound vehicle exceeding the posted speed limit of 100 km/hr. The RADAR registered a speed of 155 km/hr.
As a result, the female driver, Julie GORDON, 54-year-old of Binbrook, On has been charged with drive motor vehicle – speeding by 50 or more km/hr and will appear in a Chatham court on September 7, 2016 to answer to the charge.
On August 1, 2016, Chatham-Kent Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) issued a total of 14 provincial offences notices were issued for motorists failing to move into another lane for emergency vehicle – if safe to do so.
The “move over law” under the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario was enacted in 2003 as a means of protecting emergency services (police, fire, ambulance, and tow trucks) personnel who respond to incidents on the roadside.
Since 1989, five Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers have been killed in the line of duty on the roadside when they were hit by other drivers. These deaths could have been prevented if the motorist had slowed down and safely moved over one lane.
A conviction for a first offence will result in a fine of between $400 and $2000 and three demerit points plus a possible licence suspension for up to two years.
Chatham-Kent Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) want to remind the public that as the weather starts getting warmer more traffic will be appearing on our roadways. The OPP will actively monitor the “Big 4” driving behaviours; impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving, and seatbelt usage.