News release

RCMP, Service Nova Scotia Partner to Improve Road Safety

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations (Oct. 2000 - March 2014)

SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--RCMP, Service Nova Scotia Partner to Improve Road Safety


Highways in Nova Scotia will be safer under an agreement that will see Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations sharing commercial vehicle enforcement with Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers.

"As a result of this agreement, there will be more sets of eyes watching commercial carriers, resulting in safer vehicles and safer highways," said Peter Christie, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations' vehicle compliance officers inspect commercial carriers at five weigh scales and through roadside spot checks conducted by officers who patrol the province's highways and roads.

About 100 RCMP officers will also be on the watch for unsafe or overweight commercial vehicles.

"Today's signing is another example of our commitment to integrated policing and our commitment to sharing best practices. It also fits well with this division's traffic services mission of improving public safety on our roadways," said Chief Superintendent Ian Atkins, officer in charge of criminal operations for the RCMP in Nova Scotia.

RCMP and Service Nova Scotia staff will receive cross-training to help them adapt to their new roles. The police will learn how to do a basic walk-around safety check and what documentation commercial carriers must carry. The province's vehicle compliance officers will learn how to use the police communications system and about safety programs conducted by the RCMP.

RCMP officers will now stop commercial carriers to inspect their documentation, safety inspection stickers and to conduct walk- around safety inspections if they suspect a vehicle is unsafe. As well, they can call on the province's vehicle compliance officers to do a roadside safety inspection or to weigh a commercial vehicle.

Vehicle compliance officers will report to the RCMP any speeders or erratic drivers that they see passing the scale houses or their patrol vehicles.

"We're looking for overweight vehicles, rigs with safety defects or incomplete travel documents; the vehicles that pose a risk to other motorists and our highway infrastructure," said Dave Munro, manager of vehicle compliance.

In an average year, about 2,500 commercial vehicles are inspected.

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations will fill six vacancies, lease three new patrol vehicles and has purchased new computers for its officers to also help improve enforcement.