FORT FRANCES – CRIME – A Fort Frances resident with a history of impaired driving has been arrested once again after being caught behind the wheel while prohibited.
On November 29th, 2024, at approximately 1:00 AM, an officer with the Rainy River District Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) conducted a traffic stop in the 6th Street East area. The officer recognized the driver as someone prohibited from driving.
During the stop, the officer determined that the driver was impaired by alcohol. The driver was arrested and transported to the Fort Frances OPP detachment for breath testing.
Multiple Charges Laid
41-year-old Emmery Luke McGINNIS of Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation (Red Gut) is facing several charges, including:
- Impaired Operation (drugs or alcohol): This charge, under the Criminal Code of Canada, relates to operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs or alcohol.
- Impaired Operation (blood alcohol concentration 80 milligrams or over): This charge specifies that the accused’s blood alcohol concentration exceeded the legal limit of 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
- Operation While Prohibited Under the Criminal Code: This charge indicates that the accused was driving while under a court-ordered prohibition from doing so.
- Drive Motor Vehicle No Licence: This charge relates to driving without a valid driver’s licence.
- Drive with Cannabis Readily Available: This charge, under the Cannabis Control Act, relates to having cannabis easily accessible to the driver in the vehicle.
Penalties and Court Appearance
McGINNIS’s driver’s licence has been suspended for 90 days, and the vehicle was impounded for seven days. He was held in custody and appeared in the Fort Frances Ontario Court of Justice on November 29th, 2024 for a bail hearing.
Important Reminder: It is crucial to remember that all accused individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Increased Penalties for Repeat Offenders
The OPP reminds the public that individuals with a history of impaired driving offences face increased penalties, including potential imprisonment, under the Criminal Code of Canada. This case highlights the serious consequences of impaired driving and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to keep our roads safe.
