(COUNTY OF WELLINGTON, ON) – The Wellington County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Festive R.I.D.E. Team kicked off the season on Wednesday November 28, 2012 with the objective of proactively seeking out drivers who may be impaired by the consumption of drugs and/or alcohol. The Wellington County OPP R.I.D.E. team is comprised of 3 experienced officers and is further supported by the Wellington County Traffic Management Unit and regular frontline officers. It will operate from November 28, 2012 to January 5, 2013. The R.I.D.E. unit will set up at various strategic locations and times throughout Wellington County in order to maximize its effectiveness.
O.P.P. Detachment Commander Inspector Scott Lawson says that incidents of alcohol and drug impaired driving continue to occur. The message just doesn’t seem to get through to everyone so we’ve stepped-up our enforcement with this dedicated RIDE Team. I’m hoping that we never have another drinking and driving collision here in Wellington County or anywhere for that matter especially during the holiday seasonâ€. This proactive team of officers will remind everyone through strict enforcement that it is not acceptable to consume alcohol or drugs and operator a vehicle.
The Wellington County Festive RIDE Team has already been busy in their first four days.
Over 2200 vehicles checked.
3 – Impaired/Over 80 charges
3 – Drug charges
10 – Criminal Code charges
7 – 3 day licence suspension (driver consumed alcohol but breath sample resulted in less than 100 mgs and more than 50 mgs).
50 – Liquor Licence charges
25 – Highway Traffic Act charges
5 – Insurance Charges
50 – Road Side Breath Tests (driver consumed alcohol but breath samples resulted in less than 50 mgs).
“The results are somewhat discouraging says Inspector Lawson however we wont be deterred