Since the Thunder Bay Police Service launched this year's Festive RIDE program last Tuesday, November 26th, its members have arrested 7 drivers for impaired driving - three of whom were deemed to be impaired by drugs.
A 29-year old female was arrested on November 27, just after 2:00 am, when an officer observed the vehicle fish-tailing on Junot Avenue South in the Community Safety Zone. The driver performed poorly on the Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) and was transported to the Thunder Bay Police Station where she was evaluated by a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). The officer formed the grounds to believe that the driver was impaired by drug, and the driver was subsequently charged with Impaired Operation of a Conveyance and Failing to Comply with a Recognizance.
On November 28th, prior to 3:00 pm, an officer made observation of a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed on Arundel Street approaching Hodder Avenue. The officer conducted a traffic stop, and had suspicion that the driver was under the influence of a drug. The driver performed poorly on the SFST on scene and was later deemed by the DRE at the police station to be impaired by drug. The 27-year old male was charged with Impaired Operation of a Conveyance.
Shortly after 3:00 am on November 30th, officers responded to the area of Northern Avenue for a 911 call of a motor vehicle collision involving a parked vehicle and the driver of a separate vehicle, who was suspected of being impaired. A 53-year old woman was subsequently located on scene and arrested for impaired driving. A drug recognition evaluation was conducted at the police station by a DRE and the woman was later charged with Impaired Operation of a Conveyance by drug and alcohol.
A focused RIDE checkpoint was set up on November 30th and the morning of December 1st. Beginning just after 1:00 am, officers arrested three drivers within a half-hour span at the same downtown north core location. A 28-year old man, a 19-year old male, and a 67-year old woman were all charged with Impaired Operation of a Conveyance and Exceeding the Blood Alcohol Concentration.
Two hours later, a uniform patrol officer found a 36-year old male passed out in a vehicle in a north-core supermarket parking lot. The male was arrested and brought to the Thunder Bay Police Station where he provided breath samples that registered at triple the legal limit. He was also charged with Impaired Operation of a Conveyance and Exceeding the Blood Alcohol Concentration.
All of these drivers had their licence privileges suspended for 90 days immediately, and the vehicles they were operating were impounded for 7 days.
Drivers are reminded that the Thunder Bay Police Service considers impaired driving to be a serious, and entirely preventable, criminal offence. Officers will continue conducting sobriety checks at various hours in order to ensure that the public enjoys a safe and festive holiday season on the city's roadways.