National Impaired Driving Enforcement Day
On December 3, 2022 – National Impaired Driving Enforcement Day - at 43 different checkpoints across Saskatchewan:
- 1,755 vehicles were checked;
- 13 Criminal Code impaired charges were laid (alcohol-related);
- 11 roadside suspensions for below Criminal Code impairment, (alcohol-related);
- 4 roadside suspensions for below Criminal Code impairment, (drug-related).
Saskatchewan RCMP detachments, together with Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan (CTSS) police officers from the Saskatchewan RCMP, Weyburn Police Service, Estevan Police Service, Moose Jaw Police Service, Regina Police Service, Saskatoon Police Service and Prince Albert Police Service participated.
Officers shared a few examples of what they encountered on the roads December 3:
- At approximately 10:30 a.m., a 911 erratic driving report advised a vehicle almost rear-ended a semi while traveling at a very high rate of speed on Highway #16 near Maidstone. Maidstone RCMP officers located the vehicle parked on the side of Highway #16 with a lone occupant sitting in the passenger seat. During the traffic stop, investigation determined there were no footprints around the vehicle and the occupant was the driver. Officers suspected signs of impairment and as a result of further investigation, the 21-year-old male was charged with impaired (alcohol) operation of a motor vehicle, section 320.14(1)(a) of the Criminal Code and Impaired (alcohol) operation of a motor vehicle while over 80 mg%, section 320.14(1)(b) of the Criminal Code.
- Shortly before 11:00 p.m., a 911 report advised of a suspected impaired driver in Moosomin. Moosomin RCMP officers located the vehicle parked on the wrong side of Moose Street. A traffic stop was conducted and officers learned that the driver was waiting for a friend while parked. During the stop, officers suspected signs of impairment and the driver repeatedly refused to provide a breath sample into an Approved Screening Device. The 32-year-old female was charged with failure or refusal to comply with a demand (alcohol), section 320.15(1) of the Criminal Code and received a 60-day vehicle impound.
Canada Safe Driving Week
December 1-7 was also Canada Safe Driving Week. During the seven-day enforcement campaign, CTSS police officers (see agencies listed above) checked 2,470 vehicles, which resulted in:
- 1,586 warnings issued to motorists;
- 604 speeding charges laid;
- 125 vehicle defect inspection notices issued;
- 100 distracted driving cellphone charges laid;
- 73 people were charged for seatbelt misuse;
- 69 invalid vehicle registrations charges laid;
- 27 invalid driver's license charges laid;
- 17 roadside suspensions issued (9 alcohol-related, 8 drug-related);
- 17 driving while disqualified, suspended or prohibited charges laid;
- 5 impaired (alcohol) driving charges laid;
- 5 charges for driving a vehicle with open alcohol or unsealed cannabis.
- On Wednesday, December 4, 2022 at approximately 7:30 p.m., a RCMP CTSS officer observed a vehicle traveling at 184 km/hr in a 100km/hr zone on Highway #13 near Griffin and Weyburn. The officer conducted a traffic stop and the driver of the vehicle was issued a $1179.00 ticket for exceeding the lawful posted limit by more than 50 km/hr.
"We want to thank the public for continuing to report suspected impaired drivers, we make every effort to locate them. One call is all it takes to help increase road safety in your community," says Sgt. Garnet Waldbauer of Saskatchewan RCMP's CTSS Unit.