During the evening hours on Sunday January 8th, 2023, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) 1 District (St. Catharines / Thorold) “D” Platoon officers partnered with our Traffic Enforcement Unit to conducted two R.I.D.E. spot checks throughout the City of St. Catharines.
Throughout the night, officers stopped approximately 500 vehicles and inquired if any of the drivers had consumed any alcohol or drugs earlier in the evening. In total, 22 drivers were required to provide a sample of their breath for analysis.
At 8:10pm officers were alerted to a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta after an Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) reader affixed to an NRPS traffic enforcement vehicle indicated the registered owner was a suspended driver in the Province of Ontario. Officers directed the 35-year-old driver and resident of Thorold to the side of the road, confirmed the driver’s licence suspension and charged him accordingly.
At 8:55pm a 2011 Honda Civic being driven by a 51-year-old resident of St. Catharines was observed to have stopped approximately 50 meters away from the R.I.D.E. check point. The driver was directed to proceed and after speaking with officers was arrested for impaired operation of a motor vehicle. The driver later provided two samples of his breath that registered over two times the legal limit. His driver’s licence has been suspended for 90 days and his vehicle has been impounded for 7 days.
Additionally, 14 Provincial Offence Notices (tickets) were issued for various offences including:
– Driver and/or passenger fail to properly wear seatbelt
– Use plate not authorized for motor vehicle
– Fail to surrender permit for motor vehicle
– Driving while under suspension
– Drive motor vehicle no permit
The Niagara Regional Police Service remains committed to reducing impaired driving offences through education and the apprehension of offender’s byway of enforcement programs such as R.I.D.E.
Impaired driving remains the leading criminal offence causing death in Canada.
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