With the warm weather, many Cochranites chose to get outside and enjoy some fun in the sun over May long weekend.

That fun, unfortunately, led to a number of tickets being issued throughout the Cochrane RCMP jurisdiction, says Sergeant David Hardy with Integrated Traffic Services. Setting up in various locations, RCMP members were kept busy. "We had four formal apprehensions and charges for impaired driving, unfortunately, and also three alcohol-related provincial suspensions that we apprehended as well. In the end, the Integrated Traffic Unit processed 338 traffic violations including seven liquor tickets involving vehicles."

Speeding, distracted, aggressive driving and lack of belting up were among the tickets doled out, as well as 34 traffic safety equipment violations from check stops in the McLean Creek area. While Sgt. Hardy didn't have exact stats of backcountry violators, he did say people were pretty good for the most part. "There was a lot of people in the backcountry and generally speaking they behaved well."

Traffic volume on Highway 1A, yesterday (May 21), may have caught some people off guard and RCMP remind drivers to be patient and take it easy as you approach the town. "The traffic coming into Cochrane got progressively worse on Monday around noon backing up into Heritage (Hills) and it continued on into the late evening, so you definitely had to be patient and possibly plan out your route a little different because there is a lot of congestion  coming into Cochrane as it is a chokepoint for sure."

Being National Impaired Driving Enforcement Day on May 19, Sgt. Hardy says the impaired drivers were caught either at designated check stops or through roving patrols which can always lead to other charges. "We had one incident that resulted in a police-related pursuit where the driver failed to stop. There's a follow-up investigation with that incident and the driver was arrested; seven criminal code charges were laid against him and he remains in police custody."

With May long weekend in the bag, Cochrane RCMP and Integrated Traffic Services are already planning their approach for Canada Day where they will be on the hunt for violations behind the wheel or otherwise.