New higher speed limit rates are coming into force in the Whistler area after a province-wide safety and speed review last July.
Changes to Sea to Sky Highway speed limits include: 80 km/h to 90km/h from Eagle Ridge interchange, Horseshoe Bay to south of the Stawamus River Bridge near Squamish, 80 km/h and 90 km/h to 100km/h from north of Depot Road, Squamish to Function Junction, 80 km/h to 90km/h from Whistler Heliport Road to Pemberton Boundary and 90 km/h to 100km/h from the Pavillion Lime Plant east of Lillooet to the Highway 97 junction.
"Obviously people are permitted to go faster in certain areas, however, people should always drive according to the conditions, and you know, if it says 80 kilometres, well that's not 80 on a wet or snowy roadway. That's 80 at optimal driving conditions, so that's something people should keep in mind," said Whistler RCMP Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair
Assault investigation
On August 29 a female complainant filed a report with the Whistler RCMP.
The woman had been drinking in the village with a friend the night before, and stated that she couldn't remember anything after about 11:30 p.m.
"She woke up on a trail in a disheveled state with some bruising," said LeClair.
"She walked for about 10 minutes and came to a hotel and staff gave her directions to the local accommodation she was staying at."
Police are investigating the incident.
Hitchhikers ticketed
Whistler residents afraid of a sudden crackdown on hitchhiking need not stow away their thumbs.
While some were recently issued tickets for hitchhiking in the Whistler area, the RCMP doesn't plan to make it a trend.
"Some officers took it upon themselves to do some enforcement," said LeClair.
"Hitchhiking is contrary to the Motor Vehicle Act. However, it's not something you're going to see a lot of continued enforcement on."
Drug Bust
At about 11:45 p.m. on August 27, police observed a white Acura driving erratically on Highway 99 north of Whistler Village. A subsequent traffic stop resulted in the driver being arrested for possession of a controlled substance, and a further search of the vehicle led to the 29-year-old male being re-arrested for possession for the purpose of trafficking.
After obtaining a search warrant for the subject's house, police found 300 grams of marijuana, drug packaging material, cocaine residue and cash.
Auto theft?
Shortly before 1 a.m. on August 31, police responded to a report of a vehicle theft in progress.
The complainant had found an intoxicated male in the driver's seat of her car.
The man, a French citizen currently residing on Bowen Island, was not confrontational, and remained on scene until police arrived.
"He was very intoxicated," said Leclair.
"He couldn't provide a clear explanation as to why he was in the vehicle. However, there was no damage to the vehicle (and) nothing was stolen.
"It seems," said Leclair with a wry smile that it was "simply a case of an intoxicated male, which happens occasionally in Whistler."
Hotel assault
On Sept. 1, RCMP responded to a report of an assault on a hotel staff member at a hotel in the village.
"Police attended the location (and) arrested the subject for assault. He was very intoxicated, and verbally aggressive towards the police,"LeClair said.
The man, a 23-year-old male from Burnaby with a history of police altercations, was held over night, fingerprinted and released by way of promise to appear on an undertaking.
Stolen bike
Police are looking into the case of a stolen bike worth approximately $10,000.
The bike, a black and yellow GT Force Pro X with black forks, was reportedly stolen from the 4800 block of Glacier Lane on August 12.
