The City of Kawartha Lakes Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have laid multiple impaired-driving charges in the first two weeks of the 2025 Festive RIDE campaign.
The annual RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) program, launched on November 20, runs throughout the holiday season to detect and remove drivers impaired by alcohol, drugs, or both from Ontario roads. Impaired driving remains one of the leading causes of death and serious injury on OPP-patrolled highways.
Since the start of the campaign, at least four drivers, aged 19 to 48, have been charged with impaired-driving offences in Bobcaygeon, Lindsay, Janetville, and near Highway 7 and Greenfield Road. Some of the charges included exceeding the legal blood-alcohol limit, having liquor readily available in the vehicle, possessing open liquor in the car, and smoking in a vehicle with a passenger under 16. Other charges included careless driving, failure to wear a seatbelt, and novice or young driver B.A.C. offences. One incident involved a single-vehicle rollover.
The OPP remind the public to never drive impaired, plan a safe ride home, and call 9-1-1 if they suspect someone is driving under the influence.
