Local police officers laid more drinking and driving charges over the Christmas season than any other OPP jurisdiction in the province.
During the provincial Festive RIDE campaign, which ran Nov. 24 to Jan. 2, Wellington County OPP officers conducted over 100 RIDE program checks.
The local results included:
– 27 drivers charged with impaired driving or refusing to provide a breath sample;
– 34 drivers issued a warning range suspension (blood-alcohol concentration between .05 and .08), including 29 three-days suspensions, four seven-day suspensions and one 30-day suspension;
– 35 drug-related warnings, mainly for possession of marijuana; and
– nine drivers or passengers charged with drug-related offenses.
In addition, during the campaign there were seven vehicle collisions in which alcohol was a factor, one of which resulted “critical, life altering injuries” for a passenger.
Two collisions involved novice drivers being charged with having a blood-alcohol content above zero.
“One investigation found the at-fault driver had only reinstated his driver's licence 50 minutes prior to the collision after receiving a three-day suspension for driving under the influence of alcohol,” police stated in a press release. “He was also required to have an ignition interlock device as a result of yet another previous alcohol related charge. Officers found that his vehicle was not equipped with the device. He was subsequently charged and his vehicle impounded for seven days.”
Wellington County OPP Inspector Scott Lawson said he is “incredibly proud of the hard work” put in by officers during the campaign, including many weekends and evenings.
“The number of charges is a direct reflection of our commitment to impaired driving and traffic safety,” said Lawson.
“It's unfortunate however, that despite all the options available to drivers and all the awareness surrounding the dangers of driving while impaired, we have individuals still getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol.
“Because of individuals like them we will continue our efforts through 2018 to crack down on impaired drivers and to protect the public from their selfish actions."
The provincial RIDE campaign ended on Jan. 2, but the Wellington County campaign runs until Jan. 6.
