Greater Sudbury police laid 286 impaired driving charges in 2023

Greater Sudbury police laid 286 impaired driving charges in 2023, which was a slight increase over the previous year’s 268.

Of last year’s 286 charges, 218 related to alcohol and 68 were drug-related. There were also 20 people who refused impaired driving screening, 

Charges were laid following a motor vehicle collision in 54 of the 286 impaired driving cases.

The 268 charges in 2022 included 190 related to alcohol and 78 to drugs. There were also 24 refusals.

“We’re pretty steady with between 25 to 30 per month, and it’s pretty consistent throughout the year,” Sgt. Blair Ramsay told Sudbury.com, noting the average also applies to the holiday season.

This, despite increased enforcement efforts during the holidays carrying the potential to nab more impaired drivers.

There were 25 impaired driving charges laid in December, including 16 for alcohol and nine for drugs, which was a slight decrease from the previous December’s 29 (22 alcohol, seven drugs). 

Ramsay credits such programs as Safe Ride Home Sudbury, which helped 865 people get home during the holiday season, with preventing a spike in impaired driving in December.

He also noted an increase in people using the rideshare service Uride, alongside an active local taxi service and a steady collection of sober designated drivers coming through spot checks.

During this holiday season’s Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere spot checks, six drivers impaired by alcohol were charged, plus one impaired by drugs. There were also eight three-day licence suspensions for blowing in the warn range, between a blood alcohol level of 0.05-0.079.

This past year saw Greater Sudbury Police up their game when it comes to checking for impaired driving, by hosting two spot checks per month throughout the year, plus the collection of extra spot checks they hosted during the holiday season.

In past years, spot checks only took place from November to March.

This year, Ramsay said police are aiming to conduct even more spot checks, the details of which have yet to be determined as they still require final approval.

Their key message to the public?

“There’s no excuse for impaired driving,” Ramsay said. 

“There are so many options out there, it’s not accepted anymore and it’s a road-safety hazard and there are always alternatives.”

Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.