Why Mario Laino will be watching you this weekend

Don't say we didn't warn you. Senior Constable Mario Laino (shown), together with every other available traffic and marine officer in Northeastern Ontario, will be working this Civic Holiday weekend as part of an OPP crackdown on aggressive driving.

The heat will be especially intense on Highway 17 from Blind River through Wawa, which is being targeted for special enforcement measures.

Other targeted stretches of road include Highway 11 between Kirkland Lake and New Liskeard, and through Trout Creek, Sundridge and South River.

Beware of berry vendors

And be very, very careful to check your speed around roadside berry and vegetable vendors.

SooToday News has learned that some area OPP traffic officers are employing a simple but highly effective new tactic.

They've found that by placing a radar unit at strategic roadside locations and sitting beside it in a comfortable lawn chair, they're easily mistaken for roadside vendors.

Nabbing speeders in this way is as easy as picking berries from a bush, we're told.

OPP brass descend on the Sault

The OPP's Northeastern Ontario brass chose Sault Ste. Marie to announce Operation Slow Down Through Town.

Inspector Jim McDonnell, regional unit commander, told reporters that the OPP stealth cruiser, motorcycle unit, marked cruisers, mobile radar and laser radar will all be deployed against aggressive driving behaviours including speeding, tailgating and unsafe passing.

On Friday and Monday, special attention will be paid to boat trailers on area highways, McDonnell told SooToday.com.

Saturday and Sunday will be marked by increased enforcement on area waterways, he said.

179 dead in two years

Police are trying to reduce the number of highway fatalities in Northeastern Ontario.

Last year, 90 people died in 66 collisions in the region, including two five-person fatalities, one each in Garden River and the Sudbury area.

In 2000, 89 people died in 74 accidents.

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