However, police say the number of impaired driving charges laid during this year’s campaign is slightly down when compared to last year.
Advertisement
The Kirkland Lake Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has been busy during the Festive R.I.D.E. program (Reduce Impaired Drivers Everywhere).
Toronto Police released its numbers today during the festive RIDE program and the number of people arrested for an impaired driving-related offence is up 8% over previous year. “It’s a little frustrating that some people are selfish enough to drink and drive”.
They laid nine impaired driving charges and issued five driver’s license suspensions for “warn range” readings, as well as other drug, liquor, and Highway Traffic Act charges. Police will continue their efforts to raise awareness about the dangers associated with impaired driving. In 2014, 15 Hamilton drivers were charged with impaired and seven received warnings and suspensions. Officers were checking vehicles at roadside stops while checking for alcohol and drug impaired drivers.
Staff Sergeant Rick Witty, Kirkland Lake OPP Detachment Commander, states “Impaired driving is the number one criminal cause of death on our roads and our detachment members will be conducting RIDE checks all year long”. One reason is their use of intelligence-led policing: they determine where drunk driving is most likely to occur and deploy teams to target those areas.
Advertisement
Schmidt says the OPP appreciate these calls and take them very seriously as they help officers get risky drivers off the roads.
