In a continuation of a disturbing trend, which shows no signs of slowing down, York Regional Police arrested 15 drivers for impaired driving in less than 72 hours.
This past weekend, another 15 drivers were arrested between Friday, July 8, 2016, through to Sunday July 10, 2016, and charged with alcohol-related criminal driving offences. Of the 15 arrests, three were a result of motor vehicle collisions. Officers conducting R.I.D.E. spot checks and general patrol located eight impaired drivers and four of the arrests were as a result of concerned citizens calling 9-1-1 to report possible impaired drivers.
In one of the incidents on Saturday July 9, 2016, shortly after 7 p.m., an officer was walking through the police parking lot at #5 District, located at 8700 McCowan Road in the City of Markham, when he noticed a man sleeping in the driver’s seat of a Toyota Sienna van. As he approached the van to check on the man’s well-being, the officer immediately noticed a strong smell of alcohol coming from inside of the van as well as an open case of beer. After waking up the driver and speaking with him, it became apparent that he was under the influence of alcohol and that he had no idea that he was in a police parking lot. The 34-year-old male driver from the City of Toronto has been charged with one count of Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle – Care and Control and his driver’s licence was suspended.
Impaired driving is the number one criminal cause of death in Canada. When you drink or use drugs and drive you not only risk your life and those of your passengers, but the lives of every other driver and pedestrian on the road.
We continue to urge citizens to report impaired drivers by calling 9-1-1 as part of our Safe Roads… Your Call program. We consider these calls a potentially life-threatening crime in progress and we respond to these calls promptly. The message is clear: DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL OR USE DRUGS AND DRIVE.