The holiday season has ended and so has the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Festive Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) campaign, which ran from November 23rd, 2018 to January 2nd, 2019.

During the approximately 5-week campaign, OPP officers conducted 1,584 RIDE checks across West Region.

135 of the 502 drivers who were charged with Impaired Operation (alcohol), Over 80 milligrams, or Refusal under the Criminal Code on OPP-patrolled roads in Ontario were charged in West Region.

110 of the 384 drivers on those same OPP-patrolled roads who registered within the warn range (alcohol) were charged in West Region.

10 of the 37 drivers charged with Impaired Operation (drug) or Refusal under the Criminal Code were travelling on West Region OPP-patrolled roads.

Officers performed Standardized Field Sobriety Tests on 16 drivers in West Region, while 14 drivers required a Drug Recognition Expert evaluation in West Region during the campaign.

"The new year presents all motorists with the opportunity to play their part in traffic safety. Together, we can reduce those numbers and create safer roadways across our region." Superintendent Catherine Yeandle-Slater, Director of Operations, West Region OPP.

The OPP is reminding drivers that as of December 18, 2018, police can demand a roadside breath sample from any lawfully stopped driver without first having to suspect the motorist has been drinking.

Under the new legislation, drivers impaired by alcohol now also face higher mandatory minimum fines and some higher maximum penalties.

The OPP West Region area includes Brant, Bruce, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Essex, Grey, Haldimand, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Norfolk, Oxford, Perth, and Wellington Counties, sharing several of those areas with municipal police service partners.

https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/sidl-rlcfa/c46/p3.html (Bill C-46)

source: media release, OPP