Access Winnipeg » Crime

Free Vehicle Inspections Sunday August 29th

Trevor — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:15:12 +0000

OK, so ‘most’ vehicle inspections are free. Cop pulls you over, says something like, “that doesn’t look legal” then proceeds to go over everything you’ve ever spent your hard-earned money on your car.

He/she then continues to write you a few tickets and tow your car.

Well, this Sunday August 29th, MPI and Winnipeg Police will be holding FREE vehicle inspections WITH NO TICKETS TO BE GIVEN.

That’s right – NO TICKETS!

You show up between 1 and 8 PM on Sunday and they will let you know what needs to change to make your vehicle compliant with the Highway Traffic Act as well as ensure that it is safe to be on the road ( I know a lot of cars shouldn’t be). The best part? (again!) You won’t get a ticket. So if they tell you your car is too low, don’t go cruising!

As much as I don’t like being told what can and can’t go on my car, one think I don’t like even more are HIDs! For all of you with the ‘retrofit kits’, these are illegal and a PITA for others on the road because you’re just blinding everyone.

Image Newcastle Cruise Night Originally uploaded by aresauburn™

Winnipeg Police Service Unveils the New Cruiser Car Design

Ken — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:17:58 +0000

Our friends at the WPS just unveiled the new police cruiser design that will hit Winnipeg streets shortly. This marks the first design change in over 20 years.

The new motto is “Building Relationships”, so make sure to wave hi next time you see them.

Image cruisercar Originally uploaded by AccessWinnipeg

Winnipeg Police Cars Getting a Facelift

Ken — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:50:38 +0000

After over 20 years, Winnipeg Police cars will finally be getting a design change. They will go from the traditional blue and white to a black and white design.

It will be one of the two designs photoed above (Proposed by Menno Zacharias). The rumour is that the motto will also be change from “Community Commitment” to “Building Relationships.”

UPDATE: They will be using the design with a single horizontal black stripe (bottom image). See a photo here.

The last time the Police Cruiser design was changed was December 1989 when they went from black and white to the blue and white we have now.

Looks kind of westerny? Like something Clint Eastwood would drive.

SOURCE

Image wps Originally uploaded by AccessWinnipeg

Man Arrested For Calling 911 About Winnipeg Jets

Ken — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:56:35 +0000

A Lundar, Manitoba resident is facing numerous charges for making several 9-1-1 calls and demanding the NHL bring the Jets back to Winnipeg.

The phone calls started with the man demanding the return of the NHL team and his frustrations. The dispatcher politely told the man that there was nothing she could do and that the call was tying up a very valuable resource.

But the calls continued. The last straw was when the man called the dispatcher a crude name. She then told the man that the call was being traced and that officers were on the way to arrest him. The man responded with “If you’re coming to get me, can you bring me some smokes”.

Police arrested the man with charges of public mischief, false messages, harassing phone calls and obstructing justice.

Though this story is funny to read, it is important to know that tying up the 9-1-1 emergency service number can lead to a tragedy. If there was a real emergency and the lines happened to have been full becuase of this non-sense… it could have cost a life.

9-1-1 is for emergencies only. Emergencies are defined as:

* Any crime in progress (break & enter, robbery, etc)
* Any situation where people or property are at risk (fire, children on ice, etc)
* Any medical emergency (heart attack, accidental poisoning, etc)

If you accidentally dial 9-1-1, do not hang up. If you hang up, a ring-back will occur and this wastes valuable time. Stay on the line to advise the operator that you have dialed by accident, and answer any questions they may have.

For non-emergency calls you can contact Winnipeg Police at 986-6222.

SOURCE

Image Winnipeg Jets Originally uploaded by AccessWinnipeg

Winnipeg No Longer Auto Theft Capital of Canada

Ken — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:59:28 +0000

We may have got the Slurpee throne again this year, but this is a title we are happy not to get. Winnipeg is no longer the Auto Theft Capital of Canada.

According to Statistics Canada, Brantford, Ontario now holds the title that Winnipeg has had for several years. They had 686 theft attempts per 100,000 residents in 2009. Winnipeg was in third place with 629.

2009 Theft Attempts Per 100,000 Residents
1. Brantford, Ontario – 686
2. Kelowna, B.C. – 659
3. Winnipeg, Manitoba – 629

The decrease is largely due to MPI’s mandatory immobilizer and Winnipeg Auto Theft Suppression Strategy, a program where police monitor Winnipeg’s worst young auto thieves.

SOURCE

Image Stolen, dumped and torched Originally uploaded by Steffe

VIDEO: First Winnipeggers Being Ticketed for Driving w/ Cellphone

Ken — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:04:55 +0000

The Winnipeg Sun has published this great video of the first few Winnipeggers being ticketed for driving with a cellphone on their ear.

It appears that Winnipeg Police is not taking any excuses. A simple “I didn’t know it was illegal” will not get you out of it.

As the last dude put it best… Don’t be stupid. $200 for a phone call isn’t worth it.

REMINDER: Talking/Txting on Cellphone While Driving Now Against The Law

Ken — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:57:58 +0000

Starting today (July 15, 2010), talking/texting while driving a vehicle is now against the law. The new legislation makes it illegal to talk or text on your cellphone while driving. You can however use a hands free set for important phone calls.

The legislation also bans smoking in a vehicle where anyone under 16 years of age is present.

UPDATE: Here is the official release.

* No person shall operate a hand-operated electronic device while driving on any roadway. Operating the device includes holding the device, looking at the device or using any of its functions.

* Driving is considered to mean: to drive or have control of a vehicle unless the vehicle is stopped off the roadway on the shoulder or if within city limits you must pull over to the curb and be parked in a properly identified parking location.

* Electronic device includes cellular phones, black berries and any device that has telephone capability or any device that can receive email or text based messages.

* Hands-free devices are permitted but the operator must be able to initiate, receive or terminate a call with a single touch or by voice command. And the device must be in a holder anchored to the vehicle and must be within easy reach of the driver.

* Public parking lots are considered roadway and are not excluded from this legislation.

Enforcement actions begin tomorrow Province wide and these new laws will carry a fine of $199.80.

Image Pet Peeve (Week #25) Originally uploaded by poka0059

REMINDER: Winnipeg Police Auction June 27

Brian — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 17:00:28 +0000

Just a reminder that the Winnipeg Police Service will be holding an auction for stolen property that hasn’t been claimed by their owners.

The auction is open to the public and will take place on Sunday, June 27, 2010 at Associated Auto Auction, at 7130 Roblin Blvd.

Doors open at 9am where prospective bidders have a chance to view the items. The auctions start at 12pm.

Items vary from stereos and electronics, sporting equipment, tools, jewelry, DVD’s and CD’s, ride on mowers, and more…

Here are a few highlights:

- Xbox 360 game console and games
- Sony PS2 systems
- Nintendo Gamecube
- Sirius Satellite Radio

Click here for a full list of items up for auction.

Going once… going twice… sold! To the dude in the Axs Wpg shirt.

Image Garda Bike Auction 037 Originally uploaded by Alastair McDermott

Winnipeg Police Auction June 27

Brian — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:18:04 +0000

The Winnipeg Police Service will be holding an auction for stolen property that hasn’t been claimed by their owners.

The auction is open to the public and will take place on Sunday, June 27, 2010 at Associated Auto Auction, at 7130 Roblin Blvd.

Doors open at 9am where prospective bidders have a chance to view the items. The auctions start at 12pm.

Items vary from stereos and electronics, sporting equipment, tools, jewelry, DVD’s and CD’s, ride on mowers, and more…

Here are a few highlights:

- Xbox 360 game console and games
- Sony PS2 systems
- Nintendo Gamecube
- Sirius Satellite Radio

Click here for a full list of items up for auction.

Going once… going twice… sold! To the dude in the Axs Wpg shirt.

Image Garda Bike Auction 037 Originally uploaded by Alastair McDermott

Talking/Texting while Driving Ban Takes Place July 15

Ken — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:10:02 +0000

Legislation to ban talking/texting while driving a vehicle will finally be enforced on July 15, 2010. The new legislation makes it illegal to talk or text on your cellphone while driving. You can however use a hands free set for important phone calls. Drivers caught breaking the rule will be fined approximately $190.

The legislation also bans smoking in a vehicle where anyone under 18 years of age is present.

Image Pet Peeve (Week #25) Originally uploaded by poka0059

Driving While Talking/Texting on Phone Still Not a Law

Ken — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:00:08 +0000

CTV Winnipeg has revealed that even though legislation banning the use of hand-held cell phones while driving passed last June, it still hasn’t been made into a law.

Until it is made into a law, the rule can’t be enforced and tickets/fines can’t be issued by the police.

The government is finalizing the plans to put the law into legislation and it should start being enforced soon.

Once in legislation, drivers caught breaking the rule will be fined approximately $190.

Until then… don’t be stupid! If you want to endanger your own life, then take on rock climbing or something. But DON’T put other lives at risk for your negligence as a driver. Use a hands free device. Make a hands free call instead of reading/writing a text message.

SOURCE

Image Pet Peeve (Week #25) Originally uploaded by poka0059

Scammer Selling Armani in Winnipeg

Trevor — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:19:33 +0000

This is just a head’s up.

This afternoon I was at Safeway (Pembina and McGillivary). As I got out of my car, I was approached by a well-dressed man in his 30s. He was very well dressed and was driving a black Ford Explorer (2004-ish model). License plate was EXX 189.

I had watched this guy driving around the parking lot so I wanted to see what he had to say so I cut in front of him and ‘stole’ his parking spot. Granted I put myself in this position (I’m 6’5) otherwise I would strongly advise against this.

He goes on to say he works for Georgio Armani and that he just did a show last night. He now wants to fly back but he can’t bring these 3 jackets with him as the duty is too much. They aren’t real Armani jackets just looking at the quality.

Anyways, he’s basically looking for about $250 to pay the fees that West Jet is trying to charge him because of pushing his flight back.

So yeah, it’s a scam. The funny part was he says his English is broken but he spoke English very fluently. The other funny part was the cops talking to him (oh yeah, did I mention I called the cops on him?)

Who knows if this will keep happening.

Image Contrefaçon d’un jean Armani Originally uploaded by priceminister