T
The420Guy
Guest
Riding high to top of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort on the gondola could
result in a trip of another kind - right back down the "ganjola" and off
the ski hill with a police escort.
Local police are stepping up their presence on the local ski hill this
year, on the look-out for marijuana smokers and users of other illegal
substances, such as alcohol.
Sgt. Rob DeBoersap of the Golden detachment RCMP said last week that, in
response to complaints by the skiiing public, police officers will
sometimes now be hanging out at the end of the gondola ride, ready for a
sniff of that tell-tale cloud of smoke as skiers and snowboarders
disembark.
Instead of "Have a good run," or "Welcome to Kicking Horse Mountain
Resort," from a liftie, skiers and 'boarders' could be greeted with the
words, "Hey, guess what? We have grounds to arrest you," from an officer of
the law.
Although they are off-duty, skiing police, who are there on a voluntary
basis, can still arrest scofflaws, either when they notice the offences
themselves or are called by resort personnel via radios.
They won't be obviously identified as police officers although they will be
wearing matching jackets, so locals will be able to recognize them after a
while, said DeBoersap.
Police were on the hill in previous years as well, but with less presence.
"Last year there weren't as many members interested in participating and we
weren't pushing it as much either, because we recognize that with the
growth and the resort will come more people and with that there will be
more problems," said DeBoersap.
Drinking alcohol outside of licensed establishments is contrary to the
Liquor Control Licensing Act which states that you are not allowed to
consume alcohol in a public place. On the slopes of the ski hill, in the
parking lot or behind the day lodge are all public places, he said. The
fine for drinking in public is $115.
As far as the resort's policy towards drugs and alcohol on the hill how
they deal with it depends on the situation, said Justin Downes, the
resort's area manager.
"In conjunction with the RCMP's zero tolerance on alcohol and drugs, and
the Alpine Responsibility Code, we have to ensure that not only are the
participants in any 'extracurricular activities' riding in a safe manner
but that other people are safe as well," said Downes. "For people who are
drinking or smoking up on the mountain, it is unwise given the conditions.
They should have their full faculties," he said.
Newshawk: Herb
Source: Golden Star (CN BC)
Page 5
Website: https://www.bowesnet.com/goldenstar/
Date: January 17, 2001
Box 149 413A 9th Avenue North
Golden, British Columbia VOA 1H0
(250) 344-7344Fax
Contact: goldstar@redshift.bc.ca
Author: Lynda Harrison
result in a trip of another kind - right back down the "ganjola" and off
the ski hill with a police escort.
Local police are stepping up their presence on the local ski hill this
year, on the look-out for marijuana smokers and users of other illegal
substances, such as alcohol.
Sgt. Rob DeBoersap of the Golden detachment RCMP said last week that, in
response to complaints by the skiiing public, police officers will
sometimes now be hanging out at the end of the gondola ride, ready for a
sniff of that tell-tale cloud of smoke as skiers and snowboarders
disembark.
Instead of "Have a good run," or "Welcome to Kicking Horse Mountain
Resort," from a liftie, skiers and 'boarders' could be greeted with the
words, "Hey, guess what? We have grounds to arrest you," from an officer of
the law.
Although they are off-duty, skiing police, who are there on a voluntary
basis, can still arrest scofflaws, either when they notice the offences
themselves or are called by resort personnel via radios.
They won't be obviously identified as police officers although they will be
wearing matching jackets, so locals will be able to recognize them after a
while, said DeBoersap.
Police were on the hill in previous years as well, but with less presence.
"Last year there weren't as many members interested in participating and we
weren't pushing it as much either, because we recognize that with the
growth and the resort will come more people and with that there will be
more problems," said DeBoersap.
Drinking alcohol outside of licensed establishments is contrary to the
Liquor Control Licensing Act which states that you are not allowed to
consume alcohol in a public place. On the slopes of the ski hill, in the
parking lot or behind the day lodge are all public places, he said. The
fine for drinking in public is $115.
As far as the resort's policy towards drugs and alcohol on the hill how
they deal with it depends on the situation, said Justin Downes, the
resort's area manager.
"In conjunction with the RCMP's zero tolerance on alcohol and drugs, and
the Alpine Responsibility Code, we have to ensure that not only are the
participants in any 'extracurricular activities' riding in a safe manner
but that other people are safe as well," said Downes. "For people who are
drinking or smoking up on the mountain, it is unwise given the conditions.
They should have their full faculties," he said.
Newshawk: Herb
Source: Golden Star (CN BC)
Page 5
Website: https://www.bowesnet.com/goldenstar/
Date: January 17, 2001
Box 149 413A 9th Avenue North
Golden, British Columbia VOA 1H0
(250) 344-7344Fax
Contact: goldstar@redshift.bc.ca
Author: Lynda Harrison
