Tweeting checkstops a concern for Edmonton police
Edmonton police say social media are being used to help people avoid impaired driving checkstops — and the practice is putting people's lives in danger.
More people are using Twitter and other web services to announce checkstop locations, giving drivers a chance to avoid the area.
Police say checkstops are vital for catching impaired drivers.
“Putting lives at danger based on the fact that you want to have more followers on your twitter account is pretty disappointing,” said Const. Ian Brooks.
Tweeting out checkstop locations isn’t illegal. However, police spokesperson Lisa Sobchyshyn said it is a moral question.
“In an effort to save, perhaps spare that person from being stopped at a checkstop, can you live with the guilt if that person goes on, seriously injuring or killing someone?” she asked.
Sobchyshyn said it is a problem police ran into last year as well, as December is a busy time for police checkstops.
She believes most people would not want to see checkstop locations being publicized.
