BC Highway Patrol says dozens of vehicles were towed and 78 drug-impaired driving files were generated during traffic enforcement around this year’s Shambhala Music Festival.
Police say up to 50,000 people attended the festival and related events at Salmo River Ranch.
The festival ran from July 24 to July 27.
BC Highway Patrol says enforcement results show too many electronic music fans are still choosing to drive while impaired.
Police said they had fewer resources than in 2025, but began the festival with high-visibility enforcement that led to 601 “value-added” traffic contacts.
Officers issued hundreds of violation tickets, including 311 for speeding.
Seven drivers were ticketed for excessive speed, with fines ranging from $368 to $483.
Police also issued one ticket for driving without due care and attention, 10 occupant restraint or seatbelt tickets, two tickets for using an electronic device while driving and 11 tickets for driving without insurance.
“It’s concerning that so many people were driving with no insurance,” said Sgt. Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol.
“And it’s particularly concerning combined with the high number of speeders. It shows a level of irresponsible decision-making, and we’d like to see safer behaviour on the roads that we all share.”
At the end of the festival, BC Highway Patrol maintained two roadblocks aimed at people leaving the event.
Police say that led to 57 vehicles being towed for mechanical safety issues or driver impairment.
Officers also issued 51 24-hour driving suspensions for drug impairment.
Police conducted 85 Standardized Field Sobriety Tests for suspected drug-impaired driving.
Thirty Drug Recognition Expert evaluations were also completed, resulting in 27 impaired-by-drug investigations and 23 blood draws by a lab technician.
Another 50 violation tickets were issued for various Motor Vehicle Act offences.
Police also immediately removed eight vehicles from the road because of major mechanical defects.
“We asked people before the event to make sure they allowed drugs to clear their system before driving, but too many ignored that advice,” McLaughlin said.
“It looks like we will have to be back next year, and hopefully in greater numbers, to deal with festivalgoers who are driving unsafely.”
This year’s check stops were supplemented with police motorcycles.
BC Highway Patrol says motorcycle officers wrote tickets and watched for Motor Vehicle Act offences, as well as anyone trying to avoid police checks.
BC Highway Patrol worked alongside Nelson Police and Drug Recognition Experts from around B.C.
