DRPS lay 24 impaired driving charges in first three weeks of Festive R.I.D.E. campaign

DRPS have charged 24 drivers with impaired driving offences in the first three weeks of its Festive R.I.D.E. campaign.

Although Durham Region is currently in the Red Zone due to the COVID-19 pandemic and vehicular traffic is lighter than usual, officers are still out monitoring road safety.

In the third week of the Festive R.I.D.E. campaign alone, police stopped 1,833 vehicles and charged 10 drivers during R.I.D.E. checks in Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa, Scugog, and Clarington.

Police conducted 17 roadside breath tests and four people received three day suspensions for registering a “warn.” One novice driver also received a three-day licence suspension.

In addition, police laid one criminal code charge, 95 charges related to various highway traffic act offences, and one drug offence.

Police would like to remind motorists to be aware of cannabis laws while transporting cannabis in a motor vehicle. A driver cannot have cannabis in a motor vehicle when the seal of its original packaging is open and it’s within reach of the driver.

Also, under the law, a motorist with a G1/G2 licence must have a zero blood alcohol content while driving.

A complete list of those charged with Impaired/Exceed can be found on the drps.ca website under Hot Topics.

Under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, anyone charged with a drinking and driving criminal offence will have his or her driver’s licence suspended for 90 days and their vehicle impounded automatically for seven days.