Local OPP Inspector Scott Lawson is reminding residents that with the holiday season quickly approaching, officers from the Wellington County OPP are stepping-up their efforts to detect and apprehend impaired drivers from area roads between now and the new year.
“Impaired driving continues to be the leading criminal cause of death in Canada and Wellington County is no different,” said Lawson.
“So far this year over 138 people have been charged with drinking and driving, with over 500 roadside tests being administered and more than 146 roadside suspensions. These numbers should not be acceptable to anyone who lives, works and travels in Wellington County.”
The OPP is conducting its annual Festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign from Nov. 24 to Jan. 2 and people are being reminded that RIDE stops will be highly visible throughout the campaign.
According to the OPP, 61 people have died in alcohol-related motor vehicle collisions within OPP jurisdiction so far this year – up more than 17 per cent over 2011.
To kick off this year’s RIDE season, on Nov. 23 Wellington County OPP officers, along with Cambridge OPP, the West Region OPP Highway Safety Division (HSD), and the Waterloo Regional Police Service conducted one large spot check at Highway 24 and Kossuth Road, which borders Wellington County and Waterloo Region.
Ride results
Police conducted this massive RIDE in windy winter weather from 7:30pm to 12:30am north of Cambridge. They checked over 3,080 vehicles yet police say traffic congestion was minimal due to the organized effort, which involved four unmarked cruisers (OPP and Waterloo Region), 10 marked cruisers (OPP and Waterloo Region), one prisoner van (OPP), The Western Region Command Post, Waterloo Regional Command Post, 25 police officers (OPP and Waterloo Region) and 16 Auxiliary police officers (OPP and Waterloo Region).
Charges and suspensions included:
– three three-day administrative driver’s license suspensions;
– one impaired driver (alcohol);
– two impaired by drugs;
– one license plate violation; and
– 24 screening device tests administered to drivers whose breath samples measured less than 50mg.
