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Police 'extremely disappointed' with record spike in drunk driving charges

Twenty-three people face charges since Nov. 30
2015 10 9 police lights
Greater Sudbury Police say they've charged 23 people with impaired driving-related offences since Nov. 30. File photo.

Greater Sudbury Police say they've charged 23 people with impaired driving-related offences since Nov. 30.

“The Greater Sudbury Police Service is extremely disappointed in these numbers,” police say.

“Despite our best efforts to educate the public and create awareness ... these messages are still not being heard. We have seen a record number of impaired drivers in the month of December compared to rest of the year.
 
“The Greater Sudbury Police Service asks you to consider the impact you will have on your community, your family and yourself when you get behind the wheel of a vehicle when your ability is impaired.”

Police released details of the recent charges:

Nov. 30 

A 53-year-old man was charged with impaired driving and blowing over 80. Witnesses reported seeing a vehicle swerving on the road and travelling in the wrong direction. An officer made a traffic stop and the driver exhibited signs of alcohol consumption. A roadside test registered a fail and subsequent breath tests revealed alcohol over the legal limit. 

Dec. 2 

A 43-year-old man was charged with blowing over 80. The accused drove up to a RIDE Program checkpoint, where he demonstrated signs of being under the influence of alcohol. A roadside test registered a fail and subsequent breath tests revealed alcohol over the legal limit. 
 
A 19-year-old man was charged with impaired driving, blowing over 80 and Highway Traffic Act offences. The accused was seen driving in the wrong direction on a one-way street. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver exhibited signs of alcohol consumption. A roadside test registered a fail and subsequent breath tests confirmed alcohol over the legal limit. The driver did not have his licence or his permit with him and was charged with corresponding Highway Traffic Act offences. 

A 42-year-old man was charged with care or control while impaired. Officers were dispatched to a call about a male sleeping in the drivers’ seat of a truck that was in front of a local drinking establishment. Upon being woken, the accused exhibited signs of alcohol consumption. A roadside test registered a fail and subsequent breath tests confirmed alcohol over the legal limit.  

A 34-year-old man was charged with impaired driving, blowing over 80 and Highway Traffic Act offences. Officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle which was being driven at a high rate of speed on the roadway. The driver exhibited signs of alcohol consumption. A roadside test registered a fail and subsequent breath tests confirmed alcohol over the legal limit.   

Dec. 3

A 27-year-old man was charged with impaired driving, refusing a breath demand and resisting a peace officer. A vehicle was observed by police driving through two red lights. A traffic stop was initiated and the driver exhibited signs of alcohol consumption. A breath demand was read to the driver, but he refused to provide a breath sample into the approved instrument. The accused then resisted arrest and was also charged with that offence. 

Dec. 9

A 35-year-old man was charged with refusing a breath demand and possession of a scheduled substance. Officers were investigating a motor vehicle roll-over into a ditch. The accused was identified as the driver and exhibited signs of alcohol consumption. A breath demand was read to the driver but he refused to provide a breath sample into the approved instrument. Search incident to arrest yielded possession of marijuana and he was also charged with that offence. 

Dec. 10

A 19-year-old man was charged with blowing over 80. The accused was driving a motor vehicle and was involved in a RIDE Program check point on The Kingsway. The driver exhibited signs of alcohol consumption and a roadside test registered a fail. Subsequent breath tests confirmed alcohol over the legal limit. 

Dec. 11

A 44-year-old man was charged with impaired driving and blowing over 80. Witnesses reported a vehicle stopped at an intersection with the driver asleep at the wheel. Officers attended and had to knock on the window several times in order to wake the driver. The driver exhibited signs of alcohol consumption and a roadside test registered a fail. Subsequent breath tests confirmed alcohol over the legal limit. 

A 55-year-old woman was charged with impaired driving, blowing over 80 and dangerous driving. The accused was involved in a motor vehicle collision that caused significant damage to her vehicle. Upon attending the scene, officers observed the driver exhibiting signs of alcohol consumption. A roadside test registered a fail and subsequent breath tests confirmed alcohol over the legal limit. Skid marks, damage and witness statements led Officers to believe the driver was operating her motor vehicle in a dangerous manner before the collision occurred.

Dec. 12 

A 29-year-old man was charged with impaired driving by drugs. The accused lost control of his motor vehicle, hit a parking sign and then hit two parked cars. Officers located the accused still in the driver’s seat in a snow bank. The driver exhibited signs of impairment and investigation revealed that driver was impaired by a drug, though which drug was not reported.

A 52-year-old man was charged with impaired driving, blowing over 80 and posession of a scheduled substance. A witness reported to police that a vehicle was swerving within its lane and crossing over lane lines. Officers initiated a traffic stop and the driver exhibited signs of alcohol consumption. A roadside test registered a fail and subsequent breath tests confirmed alcohol over the legal limit. Search incident to arrest yielded marijuana. 

Dec. 15

A 58-year-old man was charged with impaired driving, blowing over 80 and driving while using a hand-held communications device. The driver was observed operating his motor vehicle while using a cellphone and a traffic stop was initiated under the Highway Traffic Act. Upon speaking to the driver, he exhibited signs of alcohol consumption. A roadside test registered a fail and subsequent breath tests confirmed alcohol over the legal limit.

Dec. 17 

A 26-year-old man was charged with impaired driving, blowing over 80 and driving the wrong way on a one-way street. The driver was observed travelling in the wrong direction on a one-way street and a traffic stop was initiated under the Highway Traffic Act. Upon speaking to the driver, he exhibited signs of alcohol consumption. A roadside test registered a fail and subsequent breath tests confirmed alcohol over the legal limit. 

A 31-year-old man was charged with impaired driving and blowing over 80. A vehicle was stopped at a RIDE Program check point where the driver exhibited signs of alcohol consumption. A roadside test registered a fail and subsequent breath tests confirmed alcohol over the legal limit.

A 23-year-old man was charged with refusing to provide a breath sample. Officers were called to investigate a possible impaired driver who was found unconscious behind the wheel of his motor vehicle. Once awakened by paramedics, he was transported to the hospital for precautionary measures. When speaking to the driver, he exhibited signs of alcohol consumption. A breath demand was made numerous times, but the accused refused to blow into the approved instrument.

Dec. 18

A 22-year-old man was charged with impaired driving. Officers initiated a traffic stop on a driver who was operating his motor vehicle above the posted speed limit. When speaking to the driver, he exhibited signs of alcohol consumption and admitted to consuming beer. A roadside test registered a fail and subsequent breath tests confirmed alcohol over the legal limit.

Dec. 19 

A 67-year-old man was charged with impaired driving and blowing over 80. Information was received that a possible impaired driver was at a local shopping mall walking with difficulty and dropping and fumbling with his car keys. Video surveillance showed the accused parking his motor vehicle, entering the LCBO store inside the mall and then exiting to leave. Officers attended and located the vehicle and the driver. The driver exhibited signs of alcohol consumption and a roadside test registered a fail. Subsequent breath tests confirmed alcohol over the legal limit.

Dec. 21 

A 19-year-old man was charged with blowing over 80. Officers came upon a vehicle in the ditch with the driver and passengers attempting to retrieve it. Upon speaking to the driver, he exhibited signs of alcohol consumption. A roadside test registered a fail and subsequent breath tests confirmed alcohol over the legal limit.   

Dec. 22 

A 42-year-old man was charged with impaired driving and blowing over 80. Officers came upon a vehicle stuck in a ditch with the driver trying to extricate it by moving forward and then reversing. Upon speaking to the driver, he exhibited signs of alcohol consumption. A roadside test registered a fail and subsequent breath tests confirmed alcohol over the legal limit.  

Dec. 24

A 23-year-old man was charged with impaired driving and blowing over 80. While the accused was operating his motor vehicle he left his lane, crossed to the opposite curb and struck a parked car which was occupied. Officers attended the scene and the driver exhibited signs of alcohol consumption. A roadside test registered a fail and subsequent breath tests confirmed alcohol over the legal limit.

Dec. 27

A 59-year-old man was charged with blowing over 80 and care or control while impaired. A witness reported to police that a male was stumbling around while cleaning off his car at a local drinking establishment. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the male in the driver’s seat of his vehicle with the keys in the ignition and the vehicle turned on. The driver exhibited signs of alcohol consumption. Subsequent breath tests confirmed alcohol over the legal limit. 

Dec. 28

A 55-year-old man was charged with impaired driving and blowing over 80. The accused was operating his motor vehicle in a parking lot of a local establishment when he struck the side of the building. Officers attended the scene and the driver exhibited signs of alcohol consumption. A roadside test registered a fail and subsequent breath tests confirmed alcohol over the legal limit.