(HURON COUNTY, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers continue to actively participate in the province wide Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (R.I.D.E) traffic safety initiative. This weekend Huron County OPP officers conducted 14 Festive R.I.D.E programs throughout the county. Officers arrested one driver for Over 80 and served another three drivers with three day suspensions for having a blood alcohol concentration in the warn range.
A 66 year old male driver from Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh entered a R.I.D.E check set up in Goderich at Britannia Road East and Victoria Street South just before 11:00 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2013. He had been drinking alcohol prompting a roadside test by officers. The driver registered a Warn and was subsequently served with a three day suspension.
Just before 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 7, 2013 a 53 year old male from Central Huron entered a R.I.D.E checkpoint at Black’s Point Road and Orchard Line. Officers detected he had been drinking alcohol prompting a roadside test. The driver provided a sample and registered a Warn. He was served with a three day driver’s licence suspension.
Later on December 7, 2013 just before 10:30 p.m. the driver of a Toyota Tacoma entered a R.I.D.E checkpoint set up at the intersection of Waterloo Street and West Street in Goderich. Officers noted the driver had been drinking alcohol and made a demand to the driver to provide a roadside test. The driver complied and provided a sample in the Warn range. The 47 year old driver from Goderich was served with a three day driver’s licence suspension.
Just over two weeks into the Festive R.I.D.E. traffic initiative West Region OPP reports
the OPP have charged 46 persons with Impaired/Over 80 or Refusing to Provide a Sample of Breath contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada. Another 50 drivers were issued a Warn Range Suspension and immediately lost their driving privileged for 3, 7 or 30 days.
Huron County OPP is urging motorists to take a proactive approach to driving sober this holiday season. There are many other safe and socially acceptable options available to persons wishing to consume alcohol. They include; handing your keys over to a sober person at the start of your function, having a designated sober driver, taking a cab or limo. Everything possible must be done to prevent a person who has been drinking from getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.
If you suspect someone is driving that is impaired please call police immediately. Your call to police may prevent a deadly crash.