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Officers in northwestern Ontario were kept busy over the holiday season as the OPP checked over 30,000 vehicles for impaired driving through their annual Festive RIDE campaign.
In the North West Region, the OPP says 140 drivers were issued charges for Impaired Driving, while 19 drivers were issued Warn Range (16) or Zero Tolerance (3) suspensions.
Overall, local officers checked 31,698 vehicles through 2,266 separate RIDE events.
“OPP officers were undeterred as they worked through some of the most intense winter storms in recent history, committed as ever to taking impaired drivers and other alcohol/drug-related driving offenders off the road and keeping holiday travellers safe,” wrote the OPP, in a prepared statement.
Across the province, the OPP says over 10,000 RIDE events took place as officers checked over 240,000 vehicles, issuing 812 Impaired Driving Charges and 229 Warn Range (208) or Zero Tolerance (21) suspensions.
The OPP’s Festive Ride campaign ran from November 17 to January 2.
The OPP notes that officers are able to exercise their Mandatory Alcohol Screening authority, which allows officers to demand a breath sample from any lawfully stopped driver, even if there is no suspicion or evidence of alcohol consumption.
Police add that RIDE events can happen at any time throughout the year.