CVSA checkstop conducted on Highway 3 near Burmis

RCMP Constable Doug Sokoloski

Chris Davis

A Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) checkstop was conducted on Wednesday, February 20 at the Burmis scales on Highway 3, roughly midway between Pincher Creek and Crowsnest Pass.

CVSA inspections are used to check vehicles and drivers for roadworthiness and compliance.

Pincher Creek RCMP Constable Doug Sokolowski was one member of the team conducting the checkstop.  He was parked at the side of the eastbound lane of Highway 3 traffic just west of the Burmis scales, slowing traffic. In the distance further east, at the entrance to the scales, RCMP officer Jeff was directing traffic, with some vehicles being directed to an area behind the administrative building, where the inspections were being conducted.

I proffered my pink paperwork to Constable Sokoloski, who gave it a quick once over. Then one slip got caught by the wind. Graciously, he chased it down and returned it to me.

"Safety is paramount on a highway like this," Sokoloski explained. "They get up close to the scale, and Jeff will direct them into the actual checkstop, which is the safety behind the scale, and the commercial vehicles are being let through. That way we can keep the traffic going. Right now we have five or six checkers going, and we can keep the people going. In two or three minutes, they are already through."

Inspections for commercial vehicles are also conducted periodically.

"We are checking for administrative things like registration, insurance, and drivers license, then we also check for other things of course. If there is open liquor, impaired driving, drugs. Any of those things. So far we haven't found any of those things, people have been really good."

"We have had a couple of administrative charges today."

"Safety is the biggest thing."

Sokoloski said there was a surprisingly large number of vehicles that didn't pass these kinds of inspections.

"The inspection service guys are the CVSA experts. They will check for everything. Load limits, brakes, lights, It's amazing how many commercial vehicle are on the road that don't make the safety."

Right now we have good cooperation from other agencies. We've got RCMP, the commercial scale guys, and conservation officers from Beauvais Lake that are helping out as well. We try to get together and involve them in some of our activities, and it's reciprocated in Search and Rescues and back-country patrols.

"Partners are a big deal in the RCMP, and I think it's great that we get these guys involved. They are more than willing to come and stand out in the cold and do this. It's a good joint coordinated effort, and the weather kind of cooperated and hopefully people realize that we're out here for a purpose. The feedback from the public has been really positive so far, and that's really good."