The Municipal Enforcement Department conducts regular patrols of Paved Highways and Gravel Roads, including those of three digit Provincial Highways, as authorized by the Solicitor Generals Office. Education and enforcement of County Bylaws and Provincial Legislation such as the Traffic Act, Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act are just a few of the Provincial Legislations used in the Municipal Enforcement department operations.
Currently, the County employs one Municipal Enforcement Supervisor and one Municipal Enforcement Officer. The officers are designated as Community Peace Officers. Each runs a patrol unit, effective for double shift initiatives or overlapping split shifts.
Education is the primary objective of this department; however where repeat offenders or severity warrants enforcement will take place.
Another key focus of the Municipal Enforcement Officers is traffic safety and preventing damage to the County road infrastructure. The Municipal Enforcement Officers are responsible for:
- Protecting County road infrastructure
- Enforcing traffic infractions on County roads
- Coordinating with the Emergency Response Plan and Emergency Operations Centre
- Providing information on legislation and County bylaws to industry, as well as the general public
- Inspecting properties for the County of Newell Planning & Development Department
- Providing assistance to the RCMP, Sheriff and Conservation Officer's, and Fish & Wildlife
The department also responds for Animal Control Services. For more information in regards to our Animal Control Bylaw please click here.
To report a problem, email enforcement@newellmail.ca.
Assisting Emergency Services
When called upon Municipal Enforcement responds to emergencies. This may include, but not limited to, motor vehicle collisions, grass fires, flood response and evacuation. The role of officers is to provide traffic control, however, they may be called in for other purposes where other emergency services may not be available.
Electronic Speed Signs
The County of Newell has installed two (2) electronic radar signs in the Hamlet of Lake Newell Resort. The signs are intended to be temporary in nature and relocatable throughout the County as deemed appropriate in effort to gain an understanding of motorist behavior in complaint driven areas. The signs will display motorist speeds as they approach, and are set with two (2) levels of warnings when vehicles are speeding. When a vehicle is in excess of the posted speed limits the LED number display on the sign will begin to flash in an effort to warn motorists they are traveling too fast. A secondary reminder, in the form of a flashing strobe light, will be activated once a vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit by 10 km/h.
The signs are intended to be used as a method of education and ensure safety for the motoring public as well as other road users (pedestrians and cyclists) in our communities. While the signs will not issue tickets, they will be a valuable tool to collect traffic data from specific locations around County Hamlets in an effort to identify problem areas, as well as aid in enforcement patrol scheduling.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the electronic radar signs, or notice the signs are not in good working order please feel free to contact the County of Newell Municipal Services Department at 403-794-2311.
Municipal Partnerships
The County Municipal Enforcement Department also provides enforcement of local bylaws including Provincial Legislation and Regulations to other municipalities and agencies. These include the Villages of Duchess & Rosemary, Town of Bassano, as well as the Eastern Irrigation District. The County of Newell entered into a shared services agreement with the Village of Hussar (Wheatland County) in early 2016.