On Saturday, December 4, 2021, members of the Niagara Regional Police kicked off their Festive R.I.D.E. campaign with checkpoints in Port Colborne and St. Catharines.
Police attended Main Street West in the City of Port Colborne and stopped approximately 250 vehicles and inquired if any of the drivers consumed any alcohol or drugs. A total of nine drivers were requested to provide a sample of their breath for analysis. As a result, one driver registered an “ALERT” on the roadside screening device and subsequently had their licence suspended for a period of three days.
Police then attended Westchester Crescent in the City of St. Catharines and stopped approximately 300 vehicles. A total of seven drivers were required to provide a sample of their breath for analysis. One driver provided a sample which resulted in a “FAIL” and was subsequently arrested. Their vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days. Their licence was suspended for 90 days.
The Niagara Regional Police Service remains committed to reducing impaired driving offences through education and the apprehension of offenders through enforcement programs like R.I.D.E. Impaired driving is still the leading criminal offence causing deaths in Canada.
This initiative has been made possible, in part, as a result of grant funding from the Ministry of the Solicitor General as part of the Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (R.I.D.E) program.