(MUNICIPALITY OF NORTH PERTH, ON) – On Saturday July 18, 2015, around 10:30 p.m., Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer involved in an OPP RIDE (Reduce Impaired Drivers Everywhere) program in Listowel stopped an E-bike whose driver and passenger were not wearing helmets.
The officer determined that the male E-bike driver had been consuming alcoholic beverages and subsequently administered a roadside breath test on him. The male failed the test and was transported to the Stratford Police Service where he failed two Intoxilyzer breath tests.
27-year-old Edward ORTH of the Municipality of North Perth has been charged with “driving with more than 80 mgs. of alcohol in blood”, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada. He is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Listowel on August 12, 2015, to answer to the charge. He was also issued a 90 day driver’s licence suspension.
It is important to remember that an E-bike is considered a motor vehicle under the Criminal Code of Canada. Therefore, anyone operating an E-bike while impaired or having over 80 mgs. of alcohol in their blood, can be charged with those Criminal Code offences. If convicted the operator will be subject to Criminal Code penalties, they can include a fine or jail time, and a driving prohibition.
All E-bike operators must also wear an approved bicycle or motorcycle helmet at all times.