Nickelback music punishment for drunk drivers; Canadian police use different approach
Authorities in Kensington, Canada are bent on reducing the number of drunk driving incidents by employing a different approach, one that threatens violators with music from rock band Nickelback.
A post on the Kensington Police Service's Facebook page warns that those who will be caught drinking and driving during the holiday season will be sanctioned with a hefty fine, one-year driving suspension and a surprise bonus — "playing the office's copy of Nickelback in the cruiser on the way to jail."
The local police department reminds residents to observe responsible driving during the holiday season, particularly those who will be coming from social gatherings. They suggest having a designated driver or using a taxi instead of getting behind the wheel after a drinking spree.
The Facebook post further reads, "So please, let's not ruin a perfectly good unopened copy of Nickelback." It adds, "You don't drink and drive and we won't make you listen to it."
In an interview with Canadian Broadcasting Corp., Constable Robb Hartlen, the author of the Facebook post, explained that Nickelback part was mentioned in jest as they simply wanted to get people's attention by saying something relatable and to "spark that conversation."
"What we were trying to do is put a little humour into a very serious matter of drinking and driving," he said. Hartlen also admitted that he personally likes the band, but that "Everyone says they don't like Nickelback. It's fashionable to do so."
The police officer also explained that the group behind hits such as "How You Remind Me" and "Far Away" was mentioned in their campaign because vocalist Chad Kroeger was convicted for driving under the influence (DUI) back in 2008.
Despite having sold 24 million albums worldwide, per Nielsen Music, and more than 50 million worldwide, as claimed by its music label back in 2011, as reported by Billboard, and having received recognition at the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and MTV Video Music Awards, the quartet from Hanna, Alberta have been at the receiving end of hate and bashing over the past years.
Several famous Canadian personalities have come to the group's defense. One is Avril Lavigne, who took to Twitter back in May to slam media outlets that referred to Nickelback as a benchmark for unpopularity. Another one is Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who commented as a guest on "The Daily Show" also in May, "You know what? Nickelback's alright."
