Brent Reaney
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (July 27/05) - With kids out late playing on the streets of their communities, police in Kivalliq RCMP detachments are urging people to be careful driving their ATVs this summer.

Problems reported vary by community and range from excessive speeding, to not wearing helmets, to drunk driving.

Rankin Inlet recently experienced a pair of accidents involving ATVs.

One driver faces charges of impaired driving after running over a four-year-old boy.

Police say another impaired driving charge may be laid in connection with a separate incident pending the return of a blood alcohol test.

While no official statistics are available, Rankin police say the number of drunk driving reports increases significantly in the summer months.

Fifteen complaints of impaired driving have been investigated since April, though Cpl. Mike Lokken of Rankin Inlet said the number is likely closer to 20.

Lokken says people planning to drink should designate one person who will stay sober and drive, or make arrangements to stay the night.

If you know someone who plans to drive after drinking, "take the keys from them. Don't let them drive. I'm sure they'll thank them the next day," he said.

"But unfortunately for some people, it takes something bad happening."

A first impaired driving conviction brings a $600 fine and a year of driving probation, Lokken said. Second-time offenders receive 14 days in jail, along with whatever punishment a judge deems appropriate.

In Baker Lake, the problem is speeding.

The posted speed limit is 30 km/hour, but "they could be going anywhere up to 70 km/hour," said Const. Robert Strong.

Several minor accidents involving ATVs have occurred, Strong said.

In one incident, a young boy had his leg broken after he was run over by an inexperienced driver.

The detachment has also responded to a number of calls concerning impaired drivers, but no charges have been laid.

"We're not equipped with things like a breathalyser. It makes it more difficult to prove things," he said.

Both the Baker Lake and Arviat detachments say close working relationships with their community's bylaw officers have helped decrease the number of ATV problems experienced.

"We've been going on the radio quite a bit just to remind people," said Arviat Const. David Aglukark.

Earlier this spring, after noticing people were driving ATVs without helmets, the detachment sent out a reminder letter.

"Shortly after that, we started seeing a lot of people wearing helmets," he said.

In Chesterfield Inlet, the detachment has responded to community concerns about ATV safety with increased check stopping beginning June 1. In one road check earlier this month, eight tickets were handed out for offenses such as driving without a helmet, having more than two riders, and not having proper registration.

"The rules of the road apply for an ATV driver, just as they do for a vehicle driver," said Cpl. Ann Hills.

Compliance seems to be improving, Hill said.