Dozens of drug-impaired drivers caught leaving Shambhala festival in B.C., police say
Police said 601 traffic stops led to 311 speeding tickets, while roadblocks also produced 57 tows and 27 drug-impaired driving investigations.
- BC Highway Patrol enforcement at the Shambhala Music Festival, held July 24 to 27, 2026, resulted in 57 vehicles towed and 311 speeding tickets issued for over 50,000 attendees at Salmo River Ranch.
- Despite having fewer resources than in 2025, police maintained high-visibility RCMP presence throughout the event, conducting 601 traffic stops to address safety concerns at the festival.
- Officers issued 51 immediate 24-hour driving suspensions for suspected drug impairment and conducted 85 sobriety tests; police opened 78 drug-impaired driving files during the operation.
- Sergeant Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol called the findings concerning, noting many attendees ignored advice to clear drugs before driving. "It shows a level of irresponsible decision-making," McLaughlin said.
- Police plan to return next year with potentially greater numbers to manage unsafe driving, as McLaughlin emphasized that safer behavior is needed on shared roads.
13 Articles
13 Articles
57 towed vehicles, 78 drug-impaired driving files at Shambhala
BC Highway Patrol says officers issued hundreds of traffic tickets and opened dozens of drug-impaired driving investigations during and after this year's Shambhala Music Festival. Up to 50,000 people attended the festival at Salmo River Ranch from July 24 to 27. During the festival, two people were ...
Dozens of drug-impaired drivers caught leaving Shambhala festival in B.C., police say
Police say dozens of drug-impaired drivers were removed from the roads during the recent Shambhala Music Festival in southeastern British Columbia, where an estimated 50,000 had people gathered for the four-day electronic music event.
The Free Press
RCMP at Shambhala report 57 towed vehicles, 78 drug-impaired driving files, and hundreds of tickets
BC Highway Patrol has the latest stats on drug impaired driving, vehicles being towed and traffic tickets from this year’s Shambhala Festival, held July 24 to 27, 2026. Last year, RCMP issued 800 tickets, 83 drug-impaired driving investigations or suspensions, and roughly 60 vehicles being towed. This year, the numbers are lower, but police are still concerned that too many festival-goers are choosing to drive while impaired. With over 50,000 pe…
RCMP at Shambhala report 57 towed vehicles, 78 drug-impaired driving files, and hundreds of tickets - Northern Sentinel
BC Highway Patrol has the latest stats on drug impaired driving, vehicles being towed and traffic tickets from this year’s Shambhala Festival, held July 24 to 27, 2026. Last year, RCMP issued 800 tickets, 83 drug-impaired driving investigations or suspensions, and roughly 60 vehicles being towed. This year, the numbers are lower, but police are still concerned that too many festival-goers are choosing to drive while impaired. With over 50,000 pe…
RCMP at Shambhala report 57 towed vehicles, 78 drug-impaired driving files, and hundreds of tickets - Greenwood Boundary Creek Times
BC Highway Patrol has the latest stats on drug impaired driving, vehicles being towed and traffic tickets from this year’s Shambhala Festival, held July 24 to 27, 2026. Last year, […]
Huge Shambhala leads to hundreds of tickets
Up to 50,000 people attended this year’s Shambhala Music Festival and its related events, and BC Highway Patrol enforcement results show that too many electronic music fans are still choosing to drive while impaired. The festival went from July 24 to July 27, at Salmo River Ranch, and while police did not have as many resources as 2025, they began the festival with high-visibility enforcement that led to 601 value-added traffic contacts. Violati…
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