O.P.P to step up traffic related enforcement

Ken Johnston
Editor

Rainy River Town Council received a report card with high marks just about all the way around last Monday from Staff Sgt. Hugh Dennis of the Ontario Provincial Police.
Dennis said that with the exception of six traffic fatalities in the Fort Frances O.P.P. catchment area last year, clearance rates on crime were quite good and even better than provincial averages in most cases.
Of 383 violent crimes reported 95% were cleared. Dennis said that compares with a three year average of 90.77%. The national clearance rate on violent crimes is 72%. “We are doing quite well here,” said Dennis.
Mayor Glen Armstrong asked if that was attributable to the staff in Rainy River.
Sgt. Dennis said that is part of the reason and the other is that with a smaller population everyone knows everyone and it is harder to commit a crime without someone knowing about it.
In 2003 there were 874 property crime incidents. In Rainy River there was a 33.4% clearance rate. In the district the clearance rate was slightly higher at 33.6%. The national clearance rate was only 22%.
Dennis was disappointed that there were six traffic fatalities last year and said that at least three of the deaths may have been averted had the people been wearing their seat belts. Some of the blame for the deaths is due to aggressive driving and speeding.
With all that in mind Dennis said the local O.P.P. will be putting forth, “More effort into traffic enforcement and accident prevention this year.”
Dennis said it will just be a case of more tickets, but also an effort to better educate people on how they can help prevent accidents. “I am not saying go out and charge everyone for not wearing their seat belts. Give a guy one or two warnings and then charge (him). Accidents cost us a lot of money especially when there are deaths and injuries.”