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IQALUIT
Starting Saturday, Iqaluit drivers and passengers must buckle up or face a possible $40 fine.

Although territorial legislation in place since division prohibits driving without a seatbelt, the law has not been enforced until now.

Those caught driving without wearing a seatbelt in Iqaluit after Sept. 15 could face a $40 fine as municipal enforcement begins to enforce thus-far-ignored territorial legislation. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

According to chief enforcement officer Kevin Sloboda, an education campaign that's been running since August will continue and officers will be lenient with first offences.

"From September to October, once it is being enforced, we will still be giving out warnings depending on whether ... the person is caught a second time or a third time," said Sloboda.

He said municipal enforcement has conducted checkstops to give out pamphlets on the new enforcement policy and is planning on doing so again while enforcement begins.

"I think it's just like anything else," said Sloboda. "As long as we continue to educate, people will accept it, and once they understand that it's ... for safety for the individual man, woman or child in the vehicle, people will start to welcome it."

Government of Nunavut employees will be advised of the new policy in Iqaluit, and as per policy, they are expected to obey the rules of the road while using government vehicles, said Darren Flynn, acting deputy minister of Community and Government Services.

Any fines, such as for not wearing a seatbelt, will come out of the employee's pocket and not from tax dollars.

According to Mayor Madeleine Redfern, the situation is the same for city employees in city vehicles, and municipal enforcement will make no exceptions for city workers.

Sloboda noted there are exceptions in the legislation, which will be honoured. Those whose jobs require them to be in and out of the vehicle often, such as delivery drivers, are not required to buckle up while working. In the case of a water truck driver, for example, the helper who is constantly getting in and out of the vehicle during work would not have to buckle up, but the driver who stays in the vehicle must. As well, those whose girth prevents them from wearing a seatbelt are exempted from the rule.

"As a city, and as a capital city, as we grow we need to start enforcing the territorial legislations that are in place to maintain the safety of residents," said Sloboda.

"It's one of those things that has come up and enough of the public has brought it to my attention that, yeah, I think it's about time."

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