Lafarge Lake at Town Centre Park was lit up with holiday lights creating a magical experience for thousands of visitors to Coquitlam on New Year's Eve.
But that wasn't the only activity going on in the city, reports the Coquitlam RCMP, whose overnight shift handled dozens of calls, including fireworks and noisy party complaints.
The busiest time was from midnight to 2 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2023, when 24 files were reported.
Between 9 to 11 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2022, there were 18 files reported.
Among the calls were two reports of fireworks and two other reports regarding damage caused by fireworks, as well as six noise bylaw complaints for possible house parties, according to information provided by media relations officer Cpl. Alexa Hodgins.
RCMP also handled multiple issues with speeders and impaired drivers, with traffic services officers stopping as many as eight impaired drivers and one prohibited driver.
Police also handed out three 24-hour roadside suspensions and four 90-day immediate roadside prohibition and 30-day vehicle impounds.
Two excessive speeders were also nabbed on Dec. 31, including:
- one driver who was clocked driving 95 km/h in a 50 km/h zone on Austin Avenue at Walker Street in Coquitllam
- another driver travelling 122 km/h in a 70 km/h zone at Shaughnessy Street and the Mary Hill Bypass in Port Coquitlam
The New Year's Eve speeding and impaired driving blitz followed up a successful Light up the Highway event on Dec. 3, 2022, when Coquitlam RCMP checked 30,884 vehicles and issued 206 violation tickets for speeding and impaired driving.
Meanwhile, for those still interested in seeing the lights at Lafarge Lake, the display will be on nightly until mid-February.
For more information, visit the City of Coquitlam website.
