A routine patrol on 36 Street April 19, turned into a traffic stop that cost an 18-year-old Lloydminster man more than $1,300 in fines.
Patrolling Lloydminster RCMP officers spotted what appeared to be a firearm pointed out of a vehicle window around 2:45 p.m. April 19. They pulled the vehicle over to investigate.
What they found was a replica – but that did not stop the consequences from being very real.
The man was charged under the Traffic Safety Act and issued multiple tickets totalling more than $1,300.
He was not the only one.
A pattern across the city
Between April 14 and 22, Lloydminster RCMP responded to multiple firearms-related complaints involving several youths. The incidents included teens firing replica firearms in public – among them airsoft guns, bead guns, and water guns.
One bead gun was seized during the responses without injury.
Police educated the youth involved and reached out to schools across Lloydminster to reinforce the risks and potential consequences of carrying imitation firearms in public.
“Could have had very serious consequences”
Lloydminster RCMP Operations Supervisor Sgt. Chris Byford said officers responding to firearms calls have no way of knowing a weapon is not real.
“Replica firearms can look very real and can still cause injury to others and/or damage to property,” said Byford. “Youth and their parents need to understand that carrying or displaying these items in public can quickly escalate into a dangerous situation.”
What parents need to know
Byford said families have a critical role to play in preventing these incidents.
“We encourage families to have open conversations about replica and toy guns and to ensure these items are not taken into public spaces,” said Byford.
Lloydminster RCMP remind the public that replica firearms – including airsoft, pellet, BB, and toy guns designed to resemble real firearms – may result in seizure, criminal charges, or other enforcement action depending on circumstances.
Anyone with information or questions related to public safety is encouraged to contact their local police detachment.
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