MARIJUANA-IMBIBING DRIVER NABBED

A 57-year-old Nelson man allegedly admitted to driving under the
influence of marijuana when caught by RCMP during a road check on
Highway 6 near Crescent Valley Wednesday, say police.

Members of the West Kootenay Traffic Services were first alerted to
the man thanks to the strong smell of marijuana emanating from the
man's truck.

"They were doing a traffic road check which is very prevalent looking
for different traffic violations, make sure people have their driver's
licences, etc. and the gentleman came through with a very strong odour
coming from inside his vehicle and consequently investigation revealed
that he had the marijuana with him," RCMP Cpl. John Ferguson told the
Daily News.

According to a police press release, the man, the lone occupant of the
vehicle, was subsequently arrested. Police say that a search of his
car uncovered four shrink-wrapped one-ounce packages of marijuana bud
as well as $6,700 in the form of $100 bills. The cash is believed to
be the proceeds of crime.

A 24-hour prohibition from driving was issued to the unidentified man
while his vehicle was towed and impounded. The accused was released
on charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of a
controlled substance for the purposes of trafficking. He is scheduled
to make his first appearance in court on June 3. Meanwhile, police
are still investigating the incident.

"I think it's very frightening and it's becoming more and more
prevalent," said Ferguson when asked about the dangers of driving
under the influence on the curvy mountain roads of the Kootenays.

Ferguson said that the community is "lucky" that the 13 fatalities
where alcohol or marijuana had been a factor resulted in the death
only of the person who had consumed the substance and not an innocent
victim.

And it's not just illegal substances, either. Some people drive after
abusing prescription drugs or simply after consuming alcohol with
prescription drugs or driving after taking legal medication. Ferguson
also said that police have found designated drivers to be under the
influence of drugs but not alcohol.

"They stay away from alcohol, but they don't see anything wrong with
smoking a joint before they get on the road," he said.