Members of the Manitoulin Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) charged a driver and passenger from Wikwemikong First Nation last week, following a traffic stop in the Town of Espanola.
Police conducted the stop on Highway 6 just before 8:30 p.m. on May 13, where they found the driver to be in possession of more than one licence, none of which were valid to operate the vehicle in question.
In the process of conducting their investigation, it was also determined that the passenger, who gave a false name to police when asked, was under conditions to not be around the driver, stemming from a previous domestic incident.
As a result, the 33-year-old driver was charged with the following:
- Operate Unsafe Vehicle, contrary to section 84 of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA)
- Possess more than one licence, contrary to section 35(1)(e) of the HTA
- Drive motor vehicle - no licence, contrary to section 32(1) of the HTA
The 37-year-old passenger, on the other hand, was charged with:
- Obstruct Peace Officer, contrary to section 129(a) of the Criminal Code
The vehicle was parked off the roadway and both parties released with a promise to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Espanola in July 2020.
