Centre Wellington councillors heard drunken driving continues to climb despite high penalties – and council had some concerns of its own to pass along to the OPP.
Staff Sergeant Steve Smith visited council’s committee of the whole and presented statistics about the township, and how it compares to other places. He said the OPP under Julian Fantino is seeking better results, and he is visiting all local councils, with individual reports, to help police “ensure we have the temperature of the community.”
He said Centre Wellington accounts for 26% of all the police calls in Wellington County, and that is “by far the leaders of our workload.”
But, he added, “That’s not bad considering the population.” Centre Wellington has about 30% of the county’s population.
Smith presented council with the OPP’s major concerns for the community, mainly citing statistics from 2005, 2006, and last year: They are:
– a 57% increase in domestic incidents over the past three years in Wellington County, and a 13% increase in Centre Wellington;
– mental health issues, with a 3% increase in Wellington County, and an 11% increase in Centre Wellington;
– a 35% increase in the number of thefts from automobiles, and a 33% increase in Centre Wellington; and
– An 11% increase in impaired driving across Wellington county, and a 29% increase in Centre Wellington since 2005
About that last one, Smith said, “In spite of all the work being done to eliminate impaired driving on our highways, the numbers continue to climb.”
He said the charges cross all statistical areas, including age and social status, and every year, impaired driving claims at least one life.
Councillor Kirk McElwain asked if the police have been giving the same effort for all three years, and Smith said the effort is similar.
But, he said, even police are surprised at the number of obviously impaired drivers who simply drive up to the Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere spot checks. That happens “almost every night,” and Smith added the drivers are often “two to three times over the limit.”
He concluded, “They know they’re impaired, but RIDE is not seen as a deterrent.”
McElwain asked if the courts are a problem.
Smith said they are “a challenge to us” because technicalities often get people freed.
He said police need people’s help, “to be our eyes and ears.”
Smith said nothing, neither the automatic 90 day drivers licence suspension nor the huge cost of lawyers seems to deter drinking drivers. Police estimate a conviction will cost an impaired driver over $18,000 in legal fees, insurance increases, lost time from work, and paying for alternate transportation.
Councillor Fred Morris asked if police can do anything about people who are driving and impaired by drugs.
Smith said said the current statistics are for alcohol only, and impairment from drugs is “difficult to prove.” He explained, “Unless we have proof, we can’t get a warrant for a blood sample.
Morris asked if police have “the tools you need.”
Smith said the system “bogs down,” and police could use a simple system of laws. He said some legislators understand that, and others do not.
Thefts from vehicles
Smith said thieves are well aware many people now keep loose change in their vehicle’s former ashtrays, and that provides an incentive for theft, and a reason such crimes are growing. He said some cars carry up to $50 in change in them, as well as valuables left in plain sight, and those are crimes of opportunity.
“Kids will raid,” he said, adding that they often use lookouts at either end of a street while someone goes through open vehicles. “There have been adults arrested, too.”
Smith said open vehicles present “such an easy target” and that is why the OPP has its Lock it or Lose it awareness program.
As well, he said, “We’re looking for volunteers. Watch where kids are roaming and up to no good.”
Smith said the vandalism against a church in Fergus recently, while not necessarily a hate crime, was certainly “a heinous crime.” He said, “We’re working hard to solve it.”
Councillor Walt Visser noted the township now has increased its mental health workers by five, and asked if that will help.
Smith said “People get frustrated,” and there are numerous 9-1-1 emergency calls police must deal with about out of control teenagers, beaten spouses, and, he said, suicides are up.
“Mental Health is becoming a big concern,” he said.
High school problem
Morris told Smith that his ward contains Centre Wellington District High School, and he gets regular complaints about students obstructing traffic, and wondered what can be done about that.
Smith said there is no easy solution, mainly because of smokers. They need a place to smoke, but school officials ban smoking on school property.
“The simple solution would be for schools to provide a place for kids to smoke – but schools don’t see it that way,” Smith said.
He added witnesses do not want to be put to the bother of going to court to testify on minor issues, and police and the township will have to work with the school board to solve the problems.
He added it is not just in Fergus that there are problems with students. “All communities struggle. Cops are forced into an adversarial role – and nobody wins.”
Councillor Bob Foster said he was pleased to see violent crime is low in Centre Wellington since 2005.
“Do other communities have higher rates?
He was referring to a graphic showing violent crime in Canada was at 112 per 1,000 people, 106 for that many in Ontario, 12 in Wellington County, and 13.5 in Centre Wellington.
The national average for property crime was 233 per 1,000 people, 248 in Ontario, 62 in the county, and 51 in the township.
By 2006, the national rate of victimization for violent crime was 9.5, 7.5 in Ontario, 4 in the county, and 5 in Centre Wellington.
Property crimes were 36 per 1,000 nationally, 28 provincially, 22 in the county, and 19 in Centre Wellington.
Smith said Toronto does not even make the top ten in Ontario, and that is a sign that violent crime is not necessarily equated to high population.
