RCMP introduce traffic ‘scarecrow’ in bid to prevent speeding in Coquitlam

COQUITLAM, B.C. – The RCMP is borrowing an idea from the United Kingdom by using a cut-out of a police officer to try and slow down traffic in Coquitlam, B.C.

The Mounties have dubbed the life-sized figure "Constable Scarecrow," which will be used on roads in the community in a pilot project for the next two months.

The metal poster cut-out shows a police officer in a bright yellow RCMP jacket holding up a laser speed-reader.

Sgt. Quentin Frewing says in a news release similar cut-outs have been used in the U.K. but the Mounties "haven't seen it used here in combination with scientific monitoring."

Frewing says it's "a low-cost, good-humoured way" to improve the police presence that might also make people think twice about speeding.

The Mounties are not revealing the exact locations where the cut-out will be used, saying several problem speeding locations will be a likely priority.