DRPS officially completed the 2025 Festive Ride program stopping more than 12,000 vehicles (against 16,227 in the previous year). In keeping with lower stops, all 2025 totals were lower except for Cannabis Act charges.
Officers conducted checks across the Region of Durham, (the numbers in brackets reflect 2024 week six totals for comparison):
- Vehicles stopped: 12465 (16227)
- People given Roadside Breath Tests: 591 (1145)
- People received “three Day Suspensions for registering a warn: 53 (102)
- Novice Driver received a 3, 7 or 30 Licence Suspension: 13 (16)
- People charged with Impaired Driving Offences: 85 (105)
- Impaired / Exceed/ Refuse Charges laid: 119 (154)
- Other Criminal Code Charges: 62 (47)
- Charged with various Highway Traffic Act offences: 945 (1214)
- Drug Offences: 11 (17)
- Provincial Cannabis Act Charges: 20 (15)
While the 2025 Festive campaign has concluded, DRPS reminds residents that our officers are on duty 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year, ensuring roadway safety and reducing impaired driving in Durham Region.
From November 15 to January 1, the Festive Ride team charged 85 drivers for operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
When measured against the total number of vehicles stopped, the impaired driving arrest rate was 0.69 per cent, a slight increase over the 2024 arrest rate of 0.65 per cent.
When both criminal impaired driving charges and driver’s license suspensions issued for WARN-range readings are combined, just over one per cent of drivers stopped received either a criminal charge or an administrative driver’s license suspension, police said.
“When you break it down, just over one of every 100 drivers we stopped was impaired or had consumed enough alcohol to face suspension,” said Ride Lead Sgt. Greg Carroll. “That may sound like a small number, but in a region of more than 780,000 residents—and with thousands more traveling through Durham every day—each impaired driver puts lives at risk. Impaired driving is dangerous, unacceptable, and entirely preventable. We can do better, Durham Region.”
A list of those charged can be found at www.drps.ca under Ride Results.
“We would like to thank the overwhelming majority of drivers who chose to drive sober and supported our efforts throughout the Festive Ride program. Our officers are also deeply grateful for the calls and tips from the public about suspected impaired drivers. If you see something, say something. Reporting impaired driving will save lives,” the police said.
Editor’s Note: Durham Post does not name the accused parties as:
1. Of this time, they are suspect[s] and not convicted by a court, and
2. Sometimes charges are amended or dropped.
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