Image – BC Highway Patrol (Mandatory Credit)
More than 600 tickets were issued after Shambhala Music Festival, including 78 drug-impaired driving cases and dozens of vehicle bans.
Police Crack Down After Major B.C. Festival
More than 600 drivers faced penalties after police carried out road checks following a major music festival in British Columbia’s Kootenay region.
The BC Highway Patrol said officers issued 601 tickets before the Shambhala Music Festival near Salmo. Most offences involved speeding. However, the biggest concern came after the festival, when police found many drivers unable to safely get behind the wheel.
Drug-Impaired Driving Leads to Dozens of Bans
After the event ended, police set up roadblocks and identified 78 cases of drug-impaired driving. As a result, more than 50 drivers received immediate driving bans.
In addition, 57 vehicles were removed from the road because of driver impairment or mechanical safety concerns.
The enforcement effort followed the festival’s turnout of more than 50,000 attendees, with officers focusing on keeping highways safe before and after the event.
Police Warn Festival-Goers About Road Safety
BC Highway Patrol Sgt. Michael McLaughlin said officers had already warned festival visitors to wait until any substances had fully left their system before driving.
Still, the number of violations showed that some drivers ignored those warnings. Therefore, police said a stronger presence could return for next year’s festival.
McLaughlin also pointed to another serious issue: 11 drivers were caught without insurance.
He said combining uninsured vehicles with speeding offences showed “irresponsible decision-making” and urged drivers to make safer choices on shared roads.
Shambhala Festival Draws Thousands to Salmo
The Shambhala Music Festival ran from July 24 to 27 at Salmo River Ranch and marked its 27th annual event.
Salmo is located in southeastern B.C., about 650 kilometres east of Vancouver and roughly 25 kilometres from the Canada-U.S. border.
As festival season continues across the province, police say responsible driving remains essential to protecting everyone travelling home.
