Support Services

Traffic Section

The Traffic Section is responsible for the enforcement of motor vehicle offences, which occur in the Municipality of Delta.

Through the use of covert vehicles, the Section targets the causes relating to motor vehicle collisions (speed, following too closely, disobeying traffic control devices).

The Traffic Section uses leading edge technology with the use of laser equipment to measure speed and to calculate if a vehicle is not travelling at a safe following distance to the car in front. The Delta Police Department Traffic Section is the second police department in the Province of British Columbia to possess and use this technology.

The Section interprets data received from ICBC and Delta Police Department Records Section to identify the high incident crash sites located within the municipality. This allows the Section to be proactive and dedicated to the areas in the municipality which require consistent attention.

Top Collision Locations in Delta - 2011

The Section uses the Community Police Stations (CoPS) volunteers in a combined effort to maximize effectiveness in providing solutions to traffic complaints brought forward by the citizens of Delta.

The goal of the Delta Police Department Traffic Section is to educate the motoring public through the use of the Motor Vehicle Act and its regulations into a safer driving environment.

Commercial Vehicle Inspection Unit

This segment of the Traffic Section was created in October 1996. It is staffed by two officers who are both qualified vehicle inspectors under the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) international standards.

The objectives of this unit include:

• Reduce damage to Delta highway infrastructure by ensuring commercial vehicles operate within legal load limits
• Ensure and improve the safe operation and equipping of commercial vehicles operating within Delta
• Ensure commercial vehicle drivers comply with provisions within Motor Vehicle Act and its regulations, the Commercial Transport Act and Delta Bylaw 4900.

Delta Police Department works with other law enforcement agencies and provincial vehicle inspectors carrying out a variety of joint-forces operations. They conduct vehicle inspections throughout the municipality. This Section has a multi-faceted purpose:

• To enhance the safety of the motoring public
• Hold accountable those who are in violation of safe operating standards
• Educate the drivers as to their level of responsibility and accountability in operating their vehicles within this and other municipalities.

» Results of the 6th Annual Commercial Vehicle Inspection Initiative, held on April 17-19, 2012

Collision Investigation Unit

The Collision Investigation Unit is responsible for the investigation of all fatal and serious injury motor vehicle collisions that occur within the Municipality of Delta. The unit is comprised of several members whose various skills and abilities allow them to perform the task of investigating major collisions under difficult and challenging conditions while using a team approach. Investigators are trained to handle fatal collisions with the same high degree of professionalism shown by the Major Crime detectives in any of their files. In fact, the Unit assists the detectives with the mapping of all their major crime scenes such as homicides.

The Collision Analysts are highly trained to examine vehicles for damage and to interpret evidence found at the scene of collisions to identify which vehicle was at fault. Their technical expertise and training in subjects such as heavy commercial vehicles, pedestrian and motorcycle collisions, photography, forensic mapping and AutoCAD drafting allow them to accurately re-create collision scenes as they existed and to prepare technical reports that explain why the collisions occurred in the first place. The analysts are continually upgrading their skills to keep current with advances in new technologies (such as the downloading of information contained in vehicle sensors) that assist them with their investigations.

The senior analyst is responsible for the supervision and training of the analysts and for the review of all serious collisions that occur in Delta. In addition, the Unit reviews all police motor vehicle collisions to determine the causes of the collisions and to make recommendations to the Accident Review Board for their actions. The analysts are considered to be expert witnesses, and as such are expected to be completely impartial in their investigations. Just like other drivers, police officers can be at fault in a collision too, and the investigators make their recommendations about the collision regardless of who is the driver.

Several members of the Unit have received acknowledgement for their excellence in the field of Collision Investigation from such agencies as the BC Association of Chiefs of Police, Regional Crown Counsel and the courts. All members have received compliments for their dedication to the field of collision investigation and in making the roads safer for everyone to use. The motto of the Department, Excellence in Policing reflects what the Collision Investigation Unit is all about—Excellence in Collision Investigation.