BYLAW & RCMP - WHO DOES WHAT?
What do Municipal Bylaw Officers do?
Bylaw Officers are hired by the town or city to enforce local rules. They investigate complaints, conduct inspections, and respond to concerns from residents and businesses regarding bylaw violations. Their job is to keep neighbourhoods clean, safe, and orderly. They handle things like:
- Animal control (barking dogs, licensing, stray pets)
- Noise complaints during business hours
- Parking infractions on municipal property
- Untidy yards or unsightly premises
- Fire pit and backyard burning violations
- Business license enforcement
- Sidewalk snow and ice removal
They can issue tickets, warnings, and compliance notices related to the above matters, but they do not investigate or enforce criminal laws. It’s important to remember that Bylaw Officers cannot arrest individuals or pursue criminal investigations. Concerns about criminal activity should be addressed directly with the RCMP. Dealing with escalating issues in the community—especially when individuals are acting unpredictably or dangerously—is the responsibility of the RCMP. Also, please be aware of the differences between the role of a Bylaw Officer and that of a Peace Officer. The Town of Grimshaw’s Bylaw Officer does not have the same enforcement authority as a Peace Officer, and does not carry a weapon, drive a marked enforcement vehicle or wear a marked uniform.
What does the RCMP handle?
The RCMP is a police service that enforces provincial and federal laws, including the Criminal Code. They handle things like:
- Theft, assault, mischief, and other crimes
- Drug-related offences
- Impaired or dangerous driving
- Domestic violence and emergencies
- Break-ins and property crime
- Trespassing
- Traffic enforcement
The RCMP can investigate, arrest, and lay criminal charges. For emergencies or to report suspicious or criminal activity, call 911. To reach the non-emergency complaint line, call 780-624-6611, and for non-emergency calls and inquiries, call 780-624-6677.
As complaints come into the Bylaw Office, there are a few steps that must be taken. The more information received from the complainant about the bylaw contravention the easier it is to pursue the matter with the proper warning letters, violation ticket/s, etc. Here is an example: “The neighbours’ dog will not stop barking all day and well into the very late evenings and there seems to be no way that I can sit and enjoy my backyard with my kids”. That is an issue the Bylaw Officer can address and hopefully can remedy the situation. Applying knowledge to the situation is an easy way to resolve most issues. Some people just don’t know the bylaws and will remedy.
A second example would be, “I suspect suspicious drug activity at the neighbours on account of the amount of traffic in and out of the property and there are always vehicles stunting when they come and go and I’m concerned because my children sometimes ride their bikes on the street.” That is an issue that the RCMP can address, as it is a legal violation rather than a bylaw contravention.