Police impound Castlegar man's road grader after refusal to provide breath sample
By Castlegar Source
A Castlegar man had his road grader impounded after allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol, according to Slocan RCMP Const. A. Van Hussen.
“On July 10, just after lunch time, the Slocan Lake RCMP responded to a complaint of a road grader driving erratically on Wilson Creek Forest Service Road near Rosebery,” Van Hussen said.
“Police attended and spoke to witnesses, who advised the grader operator is either having a medical emergency or may be intoxicated. An ambulance was requested to attend the area.
“Police located the grader operator driving on the road and initiated a traffic stop. Police spoke to the 51-year-old operator from the Castlegar area and determined the male had been consuming alcohol.
Van Hussen said the driver refused to provide a breath samed and was issued a immediate driving prohibition under provincial legislation, leading to his driver’s license suspended for 90 days and the grader impounded for 30 days.
“The grader was over forty feet in length and weighed close to 18,000 pounds,” Van Hussen added. “The Slocan Lake RCMP wish to thank the public that called police and assisted in this matter and encourage the public to contact their local police if they suspect a vehicle is being operated by an impaired driver. Anyone who has any further information is asked to contact the Slocan Lake RCMP at 250-358-2222.”
