Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) is on a mission against impaired driving this Festive Ride, but it seems as the holiday season nears, more daringly tipsy drivers are getting behind the wheel.
At the end of the third week of the 2023 Festive Ride program, police stopped more than 2,890 vehicles and charged 15 drivers with impaired driving offences. The previous week and week before 13 each were charged. Also, in the same week of last year, 13 drivers were charged.
Last Saturday afternoon, members of the DRPS Central West Division arrested a driver for impaired operation. “The accused was operating her vehicle, while intoxicated over the legal limit, with her three children, aged five, three, and one, in the backseats,” said a police report.
It said officers responded to an impaired driver call at about 6:25 pm in the area of Cassels Road East and Pearl Street in Whitby.
Two residents observed the female driving in a dangerous manner, and were able to have her pull the vehicle to the side of the road, said police. Officers determined she was impaired and took her into custody without incident.
She provided two breath samples of 210mg and 200mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.
The 36-year old female from Ajax was charged and released on an undertaking.
DRPS thanked the community members who identified the driver, helped to stop her vehicle and contacted police. “Together we can all do our part to keep our roadways safe,” said the police.
Impaired blocked after pursuit
Earlier, the same morning, members of DRPS East Division arrested a male for impaired operation of a vehicle after a brief police pursuit.
On Saturday December 9 at around 1:05 am, an officer stopped a suspected impaired driver in the area of King Street East and Townline Road North in Oshawa.
Police said the driver failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated. The vehicle was blocked in the driveway of a nearby residence and the driver was taken tinto custody without incident. His 11-year old daughter was in the vehicle as he fled from the police.
Investigation showed the driver’s licence was under suspension.
The 44-year old from Oshawa was charged and held for a bail hearing.
Average impaired was double the legal limit
The law requires fully licensed drivers to have a blood alcohol concentration less than 80mg per 100 mL and yet the average breath sample for the arrested parties since the start of the 2023 Festive Ride program is 172mg per 100 ml, which is more than double the legal limit.
“This is absolutely unacceptable and we remind everyone, “if you see something, say something,” said the police.
Impaired driving is an emergency, please call 9-1-1 if you suspect an impaired driver.
Officers conducted Ride checks across the region with the following totals (the numbers in brackets reflect 2022 third week totals for comparison):
- Vehicles stopped – 2,890 (1,753)
- People given roadside breath tests – 75 (134)
- People received three-day licence suspension for registering a warn – 5 (2)
- Novice Driver received a 3, 7 or 30 licence suspension – 1 (0)
- People charged with impaired driving offences – 15 (13)
- Other Criminal Code charges – 6 (20)
- Charged with various Highway Traffic Act offences – 196 (150)
- Drug offences – 0 (1)
During the third week, DRPS officers worked alongside partners from the Ontario Provincial Police, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the Ministry of Transportation.
A complete list of those charged with Impaired/Exceed has been posted on our website.
Under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, anyone charged with a criminal impaired driving offence will have their driver’s licence suspended for 90 days and their vehicle impounded automatically for seven days.