Results of holiday RIDE checks in from Guelph, Perth County

Between Nov. 25 and January 2, 8271 cars were stopped. – a number of those resulting in charges.

Of those drivers, nine were charged with impaired driving while five others had their driver’s licences suspended for having alcohol levels not quite high enough to meet the standard of impaired driving.

“We’re disappointed”, said traffic constable Steve Black.

In just over seven weeks, 211 drivers were arrested, up from 195.

During the 2015 Festive RIDE campaign, Durham officers conducted 10,017 vehicle stops (9,577 in 2014) and demanded 802 roadside breath tests (compared to 733 the previous year).

Ending impaired driving will continue to be a goal of the service, the release said. Six novice drivers were suspended for 24 hours for having alcohol in their system while driving.

“We still have people drinking and driving. People know we were out here, and still they gamble and drive when they shouldn’t”. Sam Theocharis said that impaired charges were laid at other locations in the city on each night of the RIDE checks. Only 206 tests were administered, with 39 of the drivers suspended for being in the WARN range. Last year’s Festive RIDE campaign, for example, saw 98 drunk driving charges laid.

According to police, the average number of arrests per day during the holiday RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) program increased 27 per cent year over year, from 3.7 arrests in 2014 to 4.7 per day in 2015.