Keeping the environment clean and outdoor enthusiasts safe caused a surge of lights and sirens in the backcountry over the May long weekend. As the July holiday approaches, conservation officers are warning that a repeat blitz is to be expected.
"Most people know exactly what to do. They comply with the regulations," said Sgt. Rory Smith of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service. "We ask that you please have your required licenses, permits and equipment when you go out into the outdoors. Most people were excellent, really doing well and a pleasure to deal with, but a handful were posing problems we had to intervene on. A number of these things came to our attention specifically because we were out there and the public directed us to the problems."
Five conservation officers enforced the rules in the Prince George, Mackenzie and Vanderhoof areas. They paid special attention to Ministry of Forests recreation sites (18 were visited), provincial parks, commonly used Crown lands, and patrols on 10 or the area's forest service roads, dealing with 319 people.
"We did make one arrest and had to issue two 24-hour driving prohibitions for impairment," said Smith. He also reported 10 seizures were made of drugs, guns, ammunition, liquor and one all-terrain vehicle.
When officers had to take legal action, often there were multiple infractions in the one incident, Smith explained. The full list included:
- no license for driving, hunting, angling, firearm;
- hunting wildlife during closed season;
- operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
- having open liquor in a motor vehicle;
- consuming liquor in a public place;
- causing damage to facilities, structures, and natural features at a recreation site;
- operating an all-terrain vehicle on a Forest Service Road without valid insurance (minimum $200,000 third party liability coverage is required);
- causing disturbance within a forest service recreation site;
- unattended campfire;
- litter
- failing to stop for a peace officer;
- obstructing a peace officer;
- flee lawful arrest;
- unlawful possession of a controlled substance;
- possessing a prohibited firearm;
- failing to have required equipment aboard a small vessel;
- having a loaded firearm in a vehicle;
- unsafe storage of a firearm.
Five ongoing investigations were also initiated due to information uncovered in the long weekend focus.
