Squamish RCMP last week received a complaint from a mother that two other 10-year-olds in her child's class at school had created a Facebook page to bully another 10-year-old.
The page included a video clip "where the two 10-year-old children made fun of their classmate and made threats," RCMP Staff Sgt. Guy Pollock said in a statement.
The matter, which was first reported to police last Wednesday (April 13), was dealt with collaboratively by police and school officials, Pollock said. He declined to say which school the youngsters attended.
According to the website www.stopcyberbullying.org, cyberbullying is defined as "any kind of harassment, insults and humiliation that uses mobile, wireless or Internet-related technology to hurt another child, preteen or teen.
"Children as young as nine years old are finding themselves harassed via blogs, Web sites, text messaging and instant messaging and many retaliate and become cyberbullies themselves."
Said Pollock, "Squamish RCMP would like to remind parents to monitor their children's use of the Internet and have conversations with their children about the harmful effects of bullying."
Driver prohibited, vehicle impounded
Last Tuesday, April 12, at 2:15 p.m., a Squamish Highway Patrol constable was patrolling on Highway 99 near Porteau Cove when the officer's automated licence plate reader registered a possible hit indicating the owner of a passing sport utility vehicle was unlicenced.
The vehicle was stopped and it was found that the driver of the vehicle was not the owner, Pollock said. The driver, however, showed signs of impairment. The officer issued a demand for a roadside screening and the driver blew a "fail." The driver was served with an immediate, 90-day roadside driving prohibition and the vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
"Regardless of who owns a vehicle, the vehicle is impounded in circumstances like this," Pollock said.
Motorcyclist ticketed
The driver of a motorcycle that struck a cement divider on Highway 99 at Loggers Creek, then collided with a passing car, was issued a ticket for speeding, Pollock said.
Squamish RCMP and B.C. Ambulance workers attended the scene of the incident that occurred on Saturday (April 16) at 2 p.m. The motorcycle, "travelling faster than the speed limit," struck a cement divider, then ran into a passing car.
The motorcyclist was thrown from the vehicle in the crash, but remarkably, was uninjured. The motorcycle was towed away, but despite being damaged, the car was driven away, Pollock said.
Vehicle impounded
On Monday (April 18) at 9:50 p.m., Squamish Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle traveling 150 kilometres per hour in an 80 km/h zone on Highway 99 at Lucille Lake. The officer found that the driver had three previous convictions for speeding in the past three years. The driver was issued a speeding ticket and the vehicle was impounded for seven days, Pollock said.
Reminder issued
Pollock reminded motorists that with the return of warmer weather, more youngsters will be walking and riding their bikes to school, Squamish RCMP plans to step up speed enforcement in school zones. The speed limit in such zones is 30 km/h and is enforceable from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days, he said.
