Kitimat RCMP is stepping up efforts to curb unsecured vehicle loads and roadside litter along Hwy 37, following pressure from Kitimat council and growing public frustration.
“For us, safety is first, so the big concern is unsecured loads,” said Staff Sergeant Graham Morgan, who appeared with Sergeant Robert Gardner at council’s May 5 meeting to deliver the RCMP’s first-quarter policing report.
As part of its commitment to tackling roadside hazards, Kitimat RCMP has begun working more closely with the Ministry of Transportation and highway maintenance contractor Emil Anderson. The detachment held its first meeting on May 1, with more meetings planned. One of the first items reviewed was the protocol for abandoned vehicles along Hwy 37. One case of concern involved a vehicle near Onion Lake that remained for two weeks before being removed.
While general littering continues to be monitored, Morgan stressed unsecured or overloaded vehicles pose a more immediate hazard. Officers recently conducted two road checks specifically targeting vehicles hauling waste to the landfill.
On April 17, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., four officers checked approximately 100 vehicles. Twenty were found to have some type of deficiency, and one violation ticket was issued for a trailer carrying a load without insurance. A second check on April 23, during the same timeframe, involved three officers and 50 vehicles. Five had minor deficiencies. Three Notice and Orders were issued, along with one violation ticket and a warning.
“We will continue to do that,” Morgan said, adding that results will be reported back to council next quarter. “But a lot of this is about education and awareness,” he said, noting that some drivers stopped with improperly secured loads had straps sitting unused in the bed of the truck. “It’s something we need to continue to address.”
Drivers with unsecured loads risk fines ranging from $173 to $598 under B.C.’s Motor Vehicle Act. Personal vehicles, such as pickup trucks, may be fined $173. Commercial or business vehicles face a penalty of $288. If a driver fails to comply with an enforcement officer’s order—such as being directed to secure the load or remove the vehicle from the highway—the fine can rise to $598.
Under the same legislation, littering from a vehicle window carries a $81 fine. If the discarded item is a lit cigarette or other burning material, the offence falls under the Wildfire Act and results in a $575 fine. The Litter Act also allows for fines of up to $2,000 or imprisonment for up to six months, or both. Regardless of who discards the item, responsibility lies with the driver.
Kitimat RCMP's renewed enforcement follows an April 22 council meeting where members pressed provincial officials about the state of Hwy 37. What began as a routine summer maintenance update quickly turned into a wider discussion about persistent litter and debris along the highway—particularly near the landfill access road—as well as broader safety concerns related to abandoned vehicles and unsecured loads falling onto the roadway.
Councillor Gerry Leibel questioned Ministry of Transportation district manager Lauren Bell and Emil Anderson Maintenance operations manager Tyler Noble whether posted fines were being enforced, citing ongoing roadside dumping. Bell responded that enforcement is the RCMP’s responsibility.
Mayor Phil Germuth raised concerns about abandoned vehicles being left roadside for extended periods. Bell said their protocol requires removal within 48 hours of identification, but delays can occur due to shift changes. Noble acknowledged the need for improvement, and Bell confirmed that once vehicles are reported, the ministry contacts the RCMP to arrange removal.
