Between July 12-14, Lethbridge Police monitored two events – the annual Street Machine Weekend and a gathering of members of the Hells Angels, their support clubs and others to celebrate the opening of a Lethbridge chapter.
Both events resulted in a significant influx of people and vehicles to the city. The following is a summary of police actions and enforcement.
During law enforcement operations by LPS and numerous policing partners to monitor the presence and activities of the outlaw motorcycle gang and their supporters, which included approximately 300 associated motorcycles attending the city, police enforced the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act, issued a number of tickets and arrested two people.
- One person arrested on an outstanding warrant
- One person arrested for assaulting a peace officer (charged with causing a disturbance)
- One collision investigated
- 40 tickets issued – most for careless driving, speeding and failing to stop at stop signs or red lights
- Approximately 100 checks of licensed establishments conducted under provisions of the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act. Section 69.1(1) of the Act enables the exclusion and removal of gang members from licensed establishments. During these checks, a total of approximately 50 gang members and those who met the definition under the Act of being associated to a gang, were directed to leave various licensed establishments. All complied and left without incident
During Street Machine weekend, specific enforcement related to the annual vehicle enthusiast event included:
- Five impaired drivers removed from the road
- Two Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS) for drivers with a Blood Alcohol Level above 0.05
- Two IRS zero tolerance for novice drivers
- One 24-hour suspension
- Seven Criminal Code charges
- 10 peopled arrested on warrants
- 12 vehicles towed
- 154 violation tickets (mostly for stunting and equipment violations) and more than 50 warnings issued
