Ontario Provincial Police charged 812 people with a total of 1,258 impaired driving-related offences during the annual Festive RIDE campaign, which ran from Nov. 17 to Jan. 2.
“OPP officers were undeterred as they worked through some of the most intense winter storms in recent history, committed as ever to taking impaired drivers and other alcohol/drug-related driving offenders off the road and keeping holiday travellers safe,” police stated in a news release.
Officers conducted nearly 10,000 RIDE stops in the province, which saw them check about 240,000 drivers. They used their authority under mandatory alcohol screening, allowing them to demand breath samples from any driver who is lawfully stopped, regardless of whether there is suspicion or evidence of alcohol or drug use.
Police issued 208 warn-range suspensions and 21 zero-tolerance suspensions.
While the Festive RIDE campaign is over, OPP will continue RIDE checks throughout the year.
