Edmonton police renew call to seize speeders cars

Two speeders who died on Edmonton streets within 24 hours have prompted the police chief to once again call on the province to change the law, and allow officers to seize vehicles from the heaviest lead-foots in the city.

A man died Thursday night after his vehicle rolled on Yellowhead Trail. A motorcyclist was killed hours earlier when he ran into the back of a parked car. Both with speeding, police say.

Police Chief Rod Knecht said Friday the time has come for the province to act, and make changes to legislation that would allow police to take some speeders right off the road.

"I think the government could be creative, in consultation with the police," Knecht said. "And they could have something where if somebody does travel 50 km/h or 60 km/h - whatever the threshold is decided upon - through photo radar, that could mean something different, other than just paying a fine through the mail."

Knecht said similar laws are already in place in B.C., Ontario and Quebec. He said in B.C. there is evidence that seizing vehicles has led to a decrease in the number of fatalities.

The man who died on the Yellowhead was the 24th traffic fatality in Edmonton this year, a number already higher than the total for all of 2014.

"Clearly the numbers are going through the roof here right now," Knecht said.

He said he didn't immediately have information to show how often speed played a factor in this year's fatal crashes.

The chief said he plans to work on the issue with his colleagues at the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police.

Knecht has raised the issue with previous provincial governments. He said he hasn't talked about it yet with the NDP government, but has given them warning he intends to raise the issue soon. He said he plans to meet with the transportation minister within the next two or three weeks.

Premier Rachel Notley said her government is committed to working with police departments.

"I think really at this time the important thing to do is to listen to what the chief has to say, listen to his arguments, look at the numbers and then we'll come up with something after that," she said.

Edmonton police are proposing that Alberta introduce excessive speed legislation that gives police discretion to seize vehicles and issue suspensions to drivers going more than 50 km/h over the posted limit.

They are also calling for court-imposed fines and six demerit points for such drivers. First-time offenders would have their licence suspended and vehicle seized for seven days, second-time offenders for 30 days, and subsequent offences would translate into a 30-day licence suspension and vehicle seizure.

Two factors have, of late, made speeding even more dangerous, Knecht said.

The fastest drivers are going faster than ever - up to 100 km/h over the limit - and are now being caught not just on freeways such as the Anthony Henday and the Whitemud but on residential streets as well.

On Tuesday evening alone, police say they caught five speeders driving way over the limit:

• a Ford Mustang was clocked at 141 km/h on 34th Street near 28A Avenue (in a 60 km/h zone);
• aCadillac Seville was clocked at 127 km/h on Argyll Road and 75th Street (in a 60 km/h zone);
• another driver was clocked at 154 km/h near 73A Street and 153rd Avenue (in a 60km/h zone);
• another driver was clocked at 112 km/h on 184th Street at 126th Avenue (in a 60 km/h zone);
• and a stolen Dodge Ram truck sped away from police at up to 140 km/h through a residential area near 90th Avenue and 50th Street.

The current fine for going 50 km/h over the limit is $474. Police statistics show that 70 per cent of the drivers caught going that fast, or faster, are men 35 and under.

"There isn't a day that goes by that the lives of innocent citizens and offenders aren't placed in life-threatening situations by motorists driving at irresponsible speeds," said Knecht.

"We're picking up the same people over and over again. We're talking about people who are clearly abusing their privilege of having a driver's licence, and putting other people at risk.

"They just like to drive fast."