Constable Randi Crawford called the Heart FM studio for the February edition of Tip Tuesday.
OXFORD - It was a busy Tip Tuesday for the Oxford OPP.
Community Safety and Media Relations Officer Randi Crawford joined us on the phone this morning, and answered five questions that were submitted by our listeners. The topics included trespassing on rural properties, how police use AI, how emergency services handle train crossings, and what to do when the traffic lights are not working at an intersection.
You can find the complete breakdown of the questions answered below:
1) What are you supposed to do when you approach an intersection with traffic lights, but the lights are not working?
Constable Crawford says it should be treated as a four-way stop, but there are some other things you should also keep in mind.
"Be very cautious and make sure that you pay attention so whoever does go first, you're giving them that opportunity. From there you're just going to cycle through to the person to the right of them and them right of them, etc."
She adds you should also pack your patience and avoid waving other drivers through the intersection, because it could cause confusion for the other drivers that don't realize you're doing that.
2) Does Artificial Intelligence (AI) help the police force? Is there a downfall to it?
Constable Crawford says there are good and bad aspects to AI, but it's too soon to tell how it will affect police operations.
She does say AI has been a game changer for frauds and scams in the area.
"So you have to be really careful when somebody sends you something whether it be an e-mail, a photo, a text message or even their voice! People can use AI for voice so just be extra careful."
3) How can rural property owners deal with trespassing during hunting season?
Constable Crawford says you should notify the Ministry of Natural Resources that there are individuals doing this. You can do so by calling 1-877-847-7667 or visiting the Ministry of Natural Recourses website online here.
You should have very clear no trespassing signs visible throughout your property and you should only have fences that are visible and could not trap anyone (ex: no barbed wire).
Constable Crawford says rural property owners can also utilize trail cameras to catch the trespassers in the act and have video footage for when they report the issue.
"I know a lot of hunters use them for identifying where the animals are, but you can actually use this as a homeowner. You could have a trail camera set up where you are finding people are accessing your property, so you can be notified when there is someone there."
4) Do emergency vehicles get a heads up whenever there is an incoming train that could hamper response times? Do they try to take alternate routes to avoid crossing train tracks? Have you ever had to wait for a train?
Constable Crawford says emergency services do not receive notifications whenever there is an incoming train, but they will be notified whenever there is something happening that could close off the area for an extended period of time (ex: work on the train tracks).
It is not ideal for anyone to be stuck at a train crossing, especially first responders, and Constable Crawford says there are ways you can help first responders stuck in that situation.
"When you see those signs that say do not block the intersection at the train tracks, you need to not do that! I also ask that you do not go right up behind me. Give me space because if I am stopped at a track and a call comes in, I want to be able to maneuver my cruiser so I can get out and I want to be able to go down that road that people have not blocked."
She also gave a big shoutout to their dispatchers because they are the ones that find alternative routes for emergency services when need be.
5) Have you ever pulled over a speeding driver and got an interesting excuse as to why? For example, "I have to get my wife to the hospital because she's having a baby!"
Constable Crawford says she's never been in a situation that she has found funny, but she has been in a few that made her shake her head.
She provided us with an example.
"Let's say they live on Plank Line and they were caught speeding in the 60 zone there, so you pull them over and they say they didn't realize they were speeding. Sometimes they forget that we are trained investigators and I look at their drivers licence and see that they live on Plank Line, so I ask them how long they have lived there and they tell me 20 years. So they're telling me they have travelled on Plank Line for 20 years and they never realized it was a 60 zone?"
Constable Crawford also told us about a man she pulled over for using his cellphone while behind the wheel. When she asked him about it, he just plainly stated that he was talking to his wife.
In her 13 years as a police officer, Constable Crawford says every driver she has pulled over has been respectful and she is very grateful for that.
The next Tip Tuesday is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31st and you can submit a question online here.
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