Overnight August 7-8 five vehicles were reported to have been entered in the Hampshire Rd / St Ann St / Bowker Ave / Cavendish St area. All vehicles were parked on the street or in driveways and all were unlocked. Some had expensive items stolen. Residents are again asked to lock unattended vehicles at all times. These are crimes of opportunity and locked vehicles with nothing of value visible are unlikely to be targeted.
On August 10 a patron of the Oak Bay Rec Centre had a back pack containing expensive bicycle gear stolen from the open cubby storage area in the upstairs gym. Patrons are asked to use the locking lockers at all times. This patron sure wishes that he had!
On August 11 a 39 yr old male bottle picker was checked on Beach Dr at Cavendish St. Investigation revealed that he was an American citizen and has been in Canada illegally since 2009. He was arrested under the Immigration Act and lodged in cells pending an immigration hearing.
The department has been noticing a regular number of incidents of motorists failing to remain at the scene of an accident. The law is very clear that a driver or any other person, directly or indirectly, involved in an accident on a highway – this includes most public and private parking lots – must; remain at, or immediately return to, the scene of the accident; render all reasonable assistance; produce in writing to any other driver involved in the accident and to anyone sustaining loss or injury, and, on request, to a witness:
(i) his or her name and address,
(ii) the name and address of the registered owner of the vehicle,
(iii) the licence number of the vehicle, and
(iv) particulars of the motor vehicle liability insurance card or financial responsibility card for that vehicle, or such of that information as is requested.
The driver or operator or any other person in charge of a vehicle that collides with an unattended vehicle must stop and must (a) locate and notify in writing the person in charge of or the owner of the unattended vehicle of:
(i) the name and address of the driver, operator or other person in charge,
(ii) the name and address of the registered owner, and
(iii) the licence number of the vehicle that struck the unattended vehicle, or leave in a conspicuous place in or on the vehicle collided with a notice in writing giving the information above.
If you damage property on or adjacent to a highway, other than a vehicle, you must take reasonable steps to locate and notify in writing the owner or person in charge of the property of the fact of the accident and the above information. Failure to do these things may result in Motor Vehicle Act charges or, in more serious cases, charges under the Criminal Code.
On August 9 a vehicle was stopped on Estevan Ave for speeding. The officer could smell alcohol on the driver’s breath and investigation lead to the 63 year old driver being issued a driving prohibition for failing or refusing to provide a roadside breath sample. Not only did he lose his licence for 90 days but, since the car he was driving belonged to his employer and it was impounded under the law for 30 days, he may lose his job! Drivers are asked to please not drink and drive and are reminded that once a police officer suspects that you have any alcohol in your body, the officer may demand that you provide a breath sample. If you outright refuse or fail to provide a sample you may be arrested under the criminal code and/or be issued a driving prohibition – just as if you had a high blood alcohol reading.
