RIDE impaired drivers charges up.
Toronto Police Services P.C. Simon Toyne of Traffic Services pulls over a car at the start of the RIDE blitz that kicked off at Humber College.
Staff file photo/IAN KELSO
Ontario Provincial Police's Festive RIDE program has charged nearly 50 per cent more drivers with impaired driving with another two weeks remaining in the campaign compared to charges laid in last year's entire campaign.
But it may not signal an increase in impaired drivers on the road, said OPP Sgt. Dave Woodford.
Weather can be a factor, among others. Last year at this time, snow on the roads contributed to officers being called to collision scenes and possibly less available to conduct RIDE spotchecks, Woodford said.
Still, 455 drivers charged with impaired driving and 380 drivers issued immediate Warn Range suspensions for having Blood Alcohol Concentrations (BAC) between .05 and .08 remains "disturbing", the veteran officer said.
"People have to be responsible," Woodford said. "Be responsible out there. Not just for yourself, but to others, including your family members. We're not saying don't go to a party and have a drink. Be responsible. Make plans to have an option to get home before you go out as opposed to taking a chance and getting behind the wheel."
While impaired driving charges are higher this year, alcohol-related fatalities in Ontario are down in 2011, Woodford said.
Drivers are often unaware there are two possible drinking and driving charges under the Highway Traffic Act.
A driver may be charged with impaired driving if an officer believes his or her ability is impaired, by either alcohol or another drug. The driver does not need to have a BAC over .05 to be charged with impaired driving.
"A lot of people don't realize they could have one or two beers and be involved in a collision and if the officer smells alcohol on their breath, they could be charged with impaired driving," Woodford said. "They don't need to blow over .08 to be charged."
The second charge is having a BAC over .08. Often, that charge will be accompanied by an impaired driving charge.
Criminal penalties related to impaired and drunk driving have changed since 2009.
A charge of having a BAC over .08 results in an automatic impounding of a driver's vehicle for seven days and a 90-day administrative driving license suspension.
Drivers who blow over .05 BAC now receive an automatic three-day license suspension. Police turn the driver's license over to the Ministry of Transportation. Drivers must pay $150 to have their license reinstated.
The phenomenon of drivers Tweeting friends the location of RIDE spotchecks to avoid them is a double-edged sword, Woodford said.
While it is a concern that the information could help someone deke a RIDE check, Woodford said it is also possible it could deter them from getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.
OPP conducts RIDE year-round, not only during the holiday season.
Officers rarely return to the same location and often move locations frequently throughout the course of a night, Woodford said, which makes avoiding a RIDE check problematic at best.
"The OPP does RIDE 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year," Woodford said. "Officers can do RIDE anywhere at any time. It's not just limited to the Festive RIDE program."