There was no celebrating this holiday season as police officers held the "Festive Ride" designed to stop impaired driving.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) across the North East Region conducted 1,638 Festive RIDE programs between Nov. 23, 2019 and Jan. 2, 2020.
Officers arrested and charged 61 people for impaired driving-related offences while another 30 motorists were issued various Automatic Drivers' Licence Suspensions after registering in the warning range on the roadside screening device.
OPP Traffic Inspector Scott Hlady says, "It's very disappointing and concerning to see that so many drivers in our region are choosing to put their own lives and the lives of everyone else on the road at risk".
Impaired driving charges and suspensions were in decline in the region from 2016 to 2018 but unfortunately, both have increased by approximately 38 per cent and 30 per cent respectively in 2019.
"The OPP will continue to conduct RIDE programs throughout the year in an effort to increase public safety and to reduce criminal death and injury on our highways, waterways and trails," said Hlady.
