Calgary's top police officer, Chief Katie McLellan, is taking a firm stance against dangerous speeding on city roads. In a recent interview, she expressed frustration with drivers who treat speed limits as mere suggestions, often going 40 to 50 kilometers per hour or more over the legal limit.
Proposed Vehicle Seizure Policy
Chief McLellan is advocating for the authority to seize vehicles from extreme speeders for 30 days. Under this proposal, offenders would have their cars impounded, and they would be required to pay towing and storage fees to retrieve them after the period ends.
"We need to be able to seize people's vehicles," McLellan stated. "It goes to an impound lot, and they can pick it up after 30 days, but they'll have to pay the tow bill and storage fees."
Deterrence Through Consequences
Deputy Chief Cliff O'Brien supported the idea, emphasizing that vehicles used in extreme speeding are effectively weapons. "When they're doing 60 km/h or 70 km/h over the speed limit on Stoney Trail, that's a weapon," O'Brien said. "Taking the weapon out of their hands is a powerful deterrent."
O'Brien noted that current penalties, such as tickets and mandatory court appearances, are insufficient. "At the end of the day, they get back into that weapon and drive away again. That's unacceptable."
Impact on Offenders
Chief McLellan believes that losing access to their vehicle for a month would have a significant impact on offenders. "They don't have the vehicle to get to work or go out and about. That option is now taken away from them," she explained.
While demerit points can help, McLellan argued that they are not as effective as vehicle seizure. "It's a huge impact," she added.
Enforcement Challenges
Deputy Chief O'Brien highlighted the dangers police face when pursuing speeders. Officers often have to drive faster than the offenders to pull them over, which poses additional risks. The proposed seizure policy aims to reduce the need for such high-speed pursuits.
The Calgary Police Service has already issued over 10,000 speeding tickets in the first 10 weeks of 2026, indicating the scale of the problem. Officials hope that the threat of losing their vehicles will make drivers think twice before flooring the accelerator.
Chief McLellan's no-nonsense approach reflects a broader push for stricter measures to ensure road safety in Calgary.
