Community Constable Paul Mulholland wants you to know that there will soon be no more warnings issued for walking on the railway track. He’s giving people a few days after this printing to read the article before violators are ticketed for trespassing.
“In municipal policing, we want compliance before enforcement,” says Mulholland. “We would much rather talk to you and get you to work with us to stick within the bylaws that the town fathers have laid out. Enforcement is the last thing we want to do, but if we have to, we will.”
That enforcement is coming because people don’t know or don’t care that the track is private property.
“The railroad tracks have always been an ongoing problem with the youth,” Mulholland says.
“They come up through the schools, they get to Roland Michener, follow the older kids down the tracks, and take the shortcut. What we’ve been doing is giving out verbal warnings. We are stopping that because verbal warnings only go so far. We will be giving tickets out under the Petty Trespass Act and the fine is $287. I don’t think too many parents will get those tickets before they start talking to their children. We need people to stop walking down the tracks. These new electric trains will rumble up behind you before you know it.”
A footbridge runs parallel to the track that crosses Sawridge Creek. The footbridge is intended for foot traffic, but then people should steer clear.
“They shouldn’t be on the tracks or following the tracks. The tracks are not just the visible tracks that you see. Like any highway, it encompasses a shoulder and everything else. You should cross over (the bridge) and then follow the designated route.”
Mulholland says that he and Constable Rebecca Oxton will also be stepping up their enforcement of posted speed limits and seatbelt compliance throughout Slave Lake.
“We’re also going to be high profile in the playground zones and school zones. The schools are coming to their break, so it allows us to transfer a lot of time to the playgrounds. They are 30 kph zones from 8:00 a.m. until one hour after sundown. Sundown gets quite late in the summer. People need to slow down for the safety of their children and the other children. It’s not good enough that they were in a rush. You’ll be ticketed under the Traffic Safety Act. It costs demerits and is the same as being written up by (RCMP). ”
“Obviously, we can’t be there all the time, but just about every street in town gets patrolled twice a day, work permitting.”
“Whenever we’re out, just our presence is often enough to make the difference. I see people reaching over and putting their seatbelt on because they see me driving down the street. I see people slowing down because they see my car coming up the street. That alone creates a safer environment in town.”

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