During the OPP Festive RIDE campaign from Nov. 24 to Jan. 2, OPP officers laid 593 impaired charges and issued 485 warning-range suspensions. Sadly, one person died in an impaired-related collision on Dec. 20.
Police officials say they are disappointed to see little change between the campaigns of this year and last year. During the 2013-14 Festive RIDE campaign, the OPP laid 587 impaired charges and issued 504 warning-range suspensions and three people lost their lives in impaired-related road crashes.
Police would like to thank and recognize the many Ontario drivers who did not drive over the holidays while impaired by drugs or alcohol. The OPP would also like to thank those who volunteered to be a designated driver, offered to put a guest up for the night, called them a cab after they had been drinking, called 9-1-1 to report an impaired driver to police or took some other action that helped take an impaired driver off the road over the holidays.
WELLINGTON COUNTY – The local Festive RIDE campaign ran from Nov. 19 to Jan. 11.
Wellington County OPP officers conducted 208 RIDE initiatives in the seven-week period, with the following results:
– 25,027 vehicles checked;
– 584 approved screening device tests (drivers who consumed alcohol but breath samples were less than 50mg per 100ml of blood in their system);
– 36 charges for over 80mg/impaired/refusing a breath test;
– 73 three-day administrative driver’s license suspensions;
– 2 seven-day driver’s license suspensions;
– ten 24-hour driver’s license suspensions;
– 20 Criminal Code charges;
– 34 drug charges;
– 572g of marijuana seized, 43 tablets seized;
– 23 Liquor License Act charges;
– 195 Highway Traffic charges; and
– 13 compulsory automobile insurance act charges.
“Last week we reported that our local campaign extended to Jan. 11,” said Wellington OPP Inspector Scott Lawson.
“I was hoping after the very public message of disappointing results we wouldn’t see any additional drinking drivers, however, in the following five days, another four impaireds were arrested, one of which was involved in a motor vehicle collision.”
Lawson added, “We will continue to do our job by conducting RIDE programs throughout the year but we are hopeful that motorists will also do their part and not drink and drive.”
