Yukon RCMP write nearly 500 tickets in traffic blitz

The traffic enforcement blitz Operation Impact certainly hit the wallet of many Yukoners, but whether it's getting through to motorists is another question.

Yukon RCMP handed out almost 500 tickets over Thanksgiving weekend.

Cpl. Shawn Pollard, head of the highway patrol for M Division, said he was not surprised at the number of offences. However, at $287 a ticket, he said it’s "disturbing" how many people they still catch driving while talking on their cell phones.

On top of that, he said police stopped nine impaired drivers. One person tried to run but was caught.

Sgt. Don Rogers said almost half the tickets issued were in Whitehorse, for offences such as unregistered vehicles, people not carrying their insurance cards or having insurance on their vehicles, and driving while suspended.