10 - Wednesday, June 2, 1993 — North Shore News Accidents wi happen: life in the traffic lane West Van Police Const. George Phillipson emphasizes the dangers of speeding fn its: continuing series profiling the two North Share police departments, the North Shore News tikes a look att the opera tions of the West Vancouver Polite Deaprement's trattic sec: tion, By Surj Rattan News Reporter FOLLOW WEST Vanconver Police Const. George Phillipson around while off duty and you would be surprised to learn he is a cop, A farmer, yes. ficial, perhaps. Phillipson is a farmer when he isn't tending to the traffic con- cerns of West Vancouver. The 43-year-old Fraser Valley resident fives on a six-aste (2.4- hectare) hobby farm with his wife of 33 years and two teenage children. When he's not patrolling the streets of West Vancouver, he’s back on the farm raising chickens and selling eggs. Phillipson has between 35 and 40 laying chickens and about 250 roosting chickens and hens. And when he's not wearing his badge and tending to his chickens, the former Ports Canada Police officer can be found on Sundays in church. where he is a baritone in his church choir. But, says Phillipson, the drivers he stops on West Vancouver streets do not see the other side of him. They just know he has pulled them over and it will likely cost them points on their driver’s licenee and: cash in the form of fines. “This is what | do but this is not who | am,”’ says Phillipson, while working truck inspection duty at the Eagle Ridge brake- check station along the Upper Levels Highway near the Horse- A chureh of: Stas en sii sl NEWS photo Mike Wakatleld WEST VANCOUVER Police Const. George Phillipson writes out a ticket to a truck driver at the Eagle Ridge brake-check station along the Upper Levels Highway. He says motorists become angry at him when they are fined for traffic violations. shoe Bay ferry termina). “When 1 pull people over and give them a ticket, I'm the bad guy to them and they just know | am going to give them a ticket. Contrary to popular belief, | don'twin a toaster for writing a certain amount of tickets.’’ Phillipson works with the West Vancouver Police Department traffic section. The section in- cludes one sergeant and four constables. He has been with the police department for 18 years and on traffic duly for three. Phillipson places much em- phasis on the issue of speeding and dangerous driving. While he says there is no quota for writing tickets, there is an ‘‘expected level of performance.” He adds that statistics have shown that more deaths and serious injuries occur as a result of speeding than in’ break-and- enter incidents. “Unfortunately, we're a sary evil,’’ says Phillipson. “dts not personal. When | pull people over and give them a ticket they'll ask why I'm not out there heces- all corners of the world North Vancouver Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. - seven days a week West Van Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. - seven days a week ywood Ave. i i a 3 8 ] “Marine Or. j West Vancouver 2558 Haywood 922-2613 North Vancouver 1343 Lynn Valley 985-1784 DEN CENT catching the bank robber. “We have people out catching the bank robber, but this (traffic) is what | do, Some people get very hot about getting a ticket,’’ says Phillipson. The traffic section will in- vestigate all motor vehicle accident injuries and fatal accidents. One of the traffic section's jobs is to check for vehicte defects at the Eagle Ridge brake-check sta- tion. It is mandatory for all trucks to stop at the station. Phillipson still remembers a tragic 1990 incident when the brakes of a truck, overloaded with hot asphalt, failed after leaving the Lagle Ridge station. The vehicle slammed into a pas- senger van filled with holiday travellers at the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal. A mother and her daughter See Step up page 12 To the Residents of The City of North Vancouver, The District of North Vancouver and The District of West Vancouver 1993 SPRINKLING REGULATIONS In support of the Greater Vancouver Water District's Water Shortage Response Plan, the following sprinkling regulations came into effect on May 29th, 1993 until September 30, 1993, EVEN nunbercd addresses can use sprinklers: SATURDAY and WEDNESDAY between 4:00 a.m. & 9:00 a.m AND 7:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m. ODD numbered addresses can use sprinklers: SUNDAY and THURSDAY between 4:00 a.m. & 9:00 a.m. AND 7:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m. Special permits for new landscaping are available at your Municipal Hall to allow sprinkling outside the restricted times, C.M. Gale, P.Eng City of North Vancouver EJ. Bremner, P.Eng. District of North Vancouver B.A, Lambert, P.Eng District of West Vancouver ‘The City of North Vancouver She Heart of Your Gonununily