Impaired driving charges on the rise in Carcross, Yukon
Police credit tips from public for increase in number of charges
Carcross RCMP say they've more than doubled the number of impaired driving charges in the community already this year.
Cpl. Geoff Peters, the detachment commander, says 13 people have been charged so far this year compared to six charges for all of 2013.
So far this month, police have charged two men with impaired driving and one with impaired operation of a boat. In two of those cases, police received tips from the public.
Peters says the increase in the number of charges is the result of increased vigilance by both the public and police officers.
"As in every small community in the territory, everybody knows pretty much what's going on, so it's just a matter of giving us a tip," he said.
"It doesn't have to be leaving all your details and everything. Sometimes an anonymous call is all we need just to check somebody out."
Peters says the community's response to increased enforcement has been positive.