The Staff Sergeant for Steinbach RCMP says it might take a change in culture before driving habits improve along Steinbach's Main Street.

Harold Laninga says it has always been a priority for his officers to clamp down on Main Street offenders, however, this has become more magnified in recent months.

"I receive letters, as does the RCMP Advisory Committee," shares Laninga. "I'm sure council members receive letters of concern, we're just trying to address those."

One day last week, Steinbach RCMP conducted enforcement, primarily on Main Street due to the problem of speeding and racing. Laninga says they issued nine tickets under the Highway Traffic Act, which also includes accelerating at intersections, something he says is definitely concerning. That same day, RCMP issued six vehicle defect notices, primarily due to mufflers that are louder than what is acceptable.

"I think probably the thing that's catching most of our attention, I think no matter where you live in town is probably the noise," he says. "Mufflers that have either been modified or perhaps replaced with mufflers that make considerably more noise than they should."

But, while it might be noisy vehicles bringing more attention to the matter, Laninga says it is the high-risk driving behaviours that RCMP are most concerned with. This includes racing and speeding.

"We have charged a few people with racing, we've seized vehicles under the provisions for racing," he notes. "So I think those are the type of activities that we're most concerned about."

And because this is happening downtown where people live, Laninga says he knows it is not only creating a great deal of nuisance but is also a major safety issue.

In September, Steinbach City Council unanimously approved a request by Councillor Michael Zwaagstra, on behalf of the Steinbach RCMP Advisory Committee. The request called for an additional RCMP officer beginning January 1st, who would be dedicated exclusively to traffic enforcement. The request also asked that the City of Steinbach ask the province for the authority to install red light cameras on Main Street.