Cops begin New Year’s countdown

VERNON – Have a Happy New Year and get home safely—that’s the message police are spreading today.

Spokesperson Gord Molendyk says extra officers will be on hand tonight throughout the North Okanagan.

“We ask everyone to plan ahead, do not drink and drive,” Molendyk says.

Crews will be up at Silver Star Mountain for the resort’s annual celebration, where there have been problems in the past with people drinking openly at the family event.

Officers will also be performing roving road checks. Every 15-30 minutes, they’ll be somewhere else.

“You might even pick up the same people two or three times,” Molendyk says. “It’s keeping people guessing.”

A challenge sometimes faced by the RCMP is losing the element of surprise because people text or tweet the location of the road check. Moving around gives them the upper hand while also creating the impression police are everywhere, Molendyk says.

The RCMP is expecting a tamer night with fewer and smaller parties because New Year’s Eve is on a week night rather than the weekend this year. However, they’ll still be out in full force.

“Our officers do not enjoy having to go to somebody’s home… especially this time of year, and advise them that a loved one has been in a serious or a fatal accident,” Molendyk says.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca, call (250)309-5230 or tweet @charhelston.