Ontario Provincial Police say 34 motorists have been charged with impaired driving in the first week of this year’s Festive RIDE campaign.
According to the OPP, officers have carried out more than 270 RIDE checkpoints since the annual initiative began on November 20. Hundreds of drivers have been stopped as police work to ensure motorists are not impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Each of the 34 drivers charged had their licence suspended for 90 days and their vehicle impounded for seven days. All are scheduled to appear in court.
Police say officers also issued seven three-day licence suspensions to drivers who registered in the warning range on an approved roadside alcohol screening device.
Chief Superintendent Lisa Wilhelm, OPP East Region Commander, said choosing to drive impaired “is putting your life, and the lives of everyone on the road at risk,” adding that anyone planning to drink or consume drugs should arrange a safe ride through a designated driver, transit, ride-share or taxi, or choose to stay where they are.
This year’s province-wide Festive RIDE campaign includes an increased number of checkpoints as officers work around the clock to deter impaired driving. The OPP notes that more than 21,000 calls have been made to report suspected impaired drivers so far this year.
Police remind motorists that RIDE checkpoints can appear anywhere, at any time, and encourage the public to call 911 if they suspect someone is driving impaired.
