Festive RIDE program begins
Posted Nov 26, 2010 02:36:32 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Here’s a sure sign the holiday season is upon us: the OPP and Regional Police start their Festive RIDE program today.
The “Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere” program with Regional Police will once again see officers performing random mobile checks in an effort to identify impaired and unsafe drivers.
But police spokesperson, Olaf Heinzel, tells 570 News, the officers on the street are only one part of the team: he encourages drivers to call police whenever they spot a drunk driver.
Heinzel says it’s always reassuring for officers doing RIDE checks year after year that the vast majority of drivers have not been drinking.
Heinzel says the penalties for drunk driving are:
– for a test between .05 to .08 blood alcohol levels, first offence: a 3-day roadside suspension; and a $150 fine
– second offence in five years, is a 7-day suspension, and the same fine
– third offence in five years is a 30-day suspension, and the same fine
– for a test of .08 blood alcohol or higher, a first offence gets you a 90-day suspension, the $150 fine; and if convicted, a 1 year licence suspension, a 1-year ignition interlock, and a $1,000 fine
During last year’s RIDE program, Regional Police officers checked over 10,000 vehicles; conducted 105 roadside tests; laid six over-80 mg and one impaired charge; and issued two 12-hour suspensions and eighteen 3-day suspensions.
Police also laid 71 other charges under the Highway Traffic Act.
Police remind everyone to make arrangements for designated drivers or take a bus or taxi if they plan to do any drinking.
