Vernon RCMP Officer Posing as Panhandler Busts Distracted Drivers

| June 2, 2015 in North Okanagan

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North Okanagan RCMP was out targeting distracted drivers on Monday and used a tricky tactic to bust motorists.


The undercover RCMP officer (Photo Credit: North Okanagan RCMP)

On Monday afternoon, what appeared to be a panhandler at the corner of Anderson Way and 48th Avenue in Vernon was really an RCMP member. Cpl. Taylor was holding a sign and said, “It is very interesting when most people looked this way and thought I was panhandling quickly looked away so that there was no eye contact.”

The undercover RCMP officer (Photo Credit: North Okanagan RCMP)

Many never got to read his sign and several people who did gave him a thumbs up. RCMP gave out 11 tickets for offences such as not wearing a seatbelt or using a cellphone in just one hour. The officers are reminding the public that it is illegal to operate your vehicle and use your cell phone, even while stopped at an intersection. The use of seatbelts has been mandatory for decades.

“Be aware, you will likely see our friendly sign man again in and around the city,” warn the RCMP.

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