THUNDER BAY – NEWS – It is in many ways incredible to think that any driver would get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and drive that vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Yet, after charging twenty people in January, and following an increase in charges laid by police.
The Thunder Bay Police Service is once again pleading to the public to find alternative means of transportation after drinking alcohol, following a January to forget.
Thunder Bay Police charged 20 people with impaired driving related offences as of January 2017. When compared to only 9 arrests made in January 2016 for the same offences, this figure is all the more alarming for police. This marks the second consecutive month with a significant increase in impaired arrests compared to the previous year.
Police officers, Fire Fighters and EMS First Responders are all on the front lines seeing the terrible impact that impaired driving has on the lives of so many people.
“In today’s day and age, there is no reason to drive after having consumed alcohol. With all of the alternative means to get you and your vehicle from the party to your home, we should be reporting zero impaired drivers every month. Instead, we are finding that the numbers are actually on the rise,” reports Constable Mark Cattani of the TBPS Traffic Unit. “And while these figures are discouraging, it will only ensure that we increase our efforts to reduce impaired driving everywhere.”
Motorists can expect to see an increased police presence, particularly through R.I.D.E. checkpoints, says Cattani. “R.I.D.E. checks have proven to be our most effective and popular tool to remove impaired drivers from our roads. In addition to these checkpoint stops, we will be spreading our message through a number of initiatives, and teaming up with our community partners, to remind everyone that there is zero tolerance towards impaired driving.”
