(NORTH BAY) – An 18-year-old North Bay resident has been charged after refusing to provide a breath sample during an early-morning traffic stop conducted by the North Bay Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
On Sunday, March 29, 2026, at approximately 3:20 a.m., an officer from the North Bay OPP conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on Janey Avenue after observing that the rear running lights were not activated.
During the stop, the officer observed signs consistent with impairment by alcohol. The officer demanded a breath sample using an Approved Screening Device (ASD), but the driver refused to comply and was subsequently placed under arrest.
As a result of the investigation, Carter KOWAL, 18 years of age, of North Bay, has been charged with:
· Failure or refusal to comply with demand
· Take motor vehicle without consent
The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in North Bay on May 5, 2026. The driver was also issued a 90‑day Administrative Driver’s Licence Suspension (ADLS).
The OPP reminds motorists that refusing to comply with a lawful demand, such as a breath test, or Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST), carries the same criminal consequences as an impaired driving conviction, including immediate roadside suspensions, fines, and potential jail time.