Traffic Services
In 1997, the Traffic Enforcement component of Traffic Services Highway Patrol implemented a Truck Inspection Team to combat serious accidents and major accidents involving commercial vehicles. The officers were specifically trained and designated by the Ministry of Transportation as Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Inspectors.
During the year, the officers have been heavily involved in joint enforcement programs with personnel from the regions of Peel, York, Durham, The Ontario Provincial Police and the Ministry of Transportation.
In 1997, the Metropolitan Toronto police Community Reduced Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) program helped remove on hundred and twenty-seven drinking drivers from the road-ways. Eleven persons were seriously injured in alcohol-related crashes and eighteen were killed.
Each RIDE team is supported by financial donations from corporations.
Shown here are three of the nineteen laser speed measuring devices used by the Metropolitan Toronto police Traffic and Marine Units. These complement the one hundred hand-held and fifty mobile Radar devices in use.
In 1990, the formation fo the "Winged Wheels" Precision Motorcycle Team was authorized by the Chief of Police, William McCormack. The Winged Wheels are named from the insignia worn on the sleeve of Metropolitan Toronto Police Service Highway Patrol Officers' uniform. This crest is internationally recognized as the badge of Motorcycle Officers.
The Team's appearances at charitable events, community festivals, parades and special events have showcased Traffic Services as well as the teams commitment to community based policing. During visits of international dignitaries or heads of state, the unit interacts with other police agencies to provide motorcades. The team promotes safe motorcycle riding skills and attitudes by its performances and appearances.
The SOKIA "Total Station" is the new technology for collision investigation. The laser measuring system allows reconstruction officers to measure complex collision scenes, down-load the data and create computer generated diagrams. The new technology reduces the time that the officers spend at the scenes doing the hands-on task of measuring and also the time spent on preparing diagrams.