14 More Impaired Drivers Caught

Over this past weekend, 14 motorists were charged with impaired-related offences. One of those drivers was asleep at the wheel in mid-text and four people were found to be impaired by alcohol in the middle of the day.

Between Friday, October 28 and Sunday, October 30, 2016, 11 men and three women were charged with alcohol-related driving offences, including three that resulted from motor vehicle collisions, five from general patrol or R.I.D.E. spot checks and six from calls made to police by concerned citizens.

Four of the drivers were found between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., with one of those drivers blowing more than three-and-a-half times the legal limit of alcohol at approximately 1 p.m.

On Sunday, October 30, 2016, shortly after 4:30 a.m., officers on patrol came across a vehicle stopped in a live lane on the Highway 404 off-ramp at Steeles Avenue. The vehicle was running and the driver was slumped over the steering wheel asleep, with both hands on his mobile phone. Officers boxed in the car with their cruisers and attempted to wake the driver. After several attempts he awoke, removed his foot from the brake pedal and his car rolled into a police cruiser. Officers believed the driver was under the influence of alcohol and he was placed under arrest. A 25-year-old man from the City of Markham was charged with Impaired Driving, Over 80 and Drive With Handheld Communication Device.

A video of Constable Andy Pattenden speaking about this incident is available for viewing at the following link: https://youtu.be/fUFOMryZvgA

Despite repeated warnings by police and numerous senseless tragedies on our roadways, drivers are not getting the message. Impaired driving is the number one criminal cause of death in Canada. York Regional Police thanks members of the community for helping us stop and arrest impaired drivers by calling 9-1-1 through the Safe Roads…Your Call program. We consider these incidents a life-threatening crime in progress and will continue to respond to these calls.

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