Local police services will be out this Civic holiday weekend looking for drivers and boating operators impaired by drugs or alcohol. The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) along with the OPP, RCMP, Military Police and MADD Ottawa will hold RIDE checkpoints throughout the city to promote one message ‘Drive Sober’.
With the reopening of Ontario, Police have seen an increase in impaired driving on our roadways. “There is no reason ever for anyone to get a criminal record because they drove impaired,” said Geoff Leckey, President of MADD Ottawa.
“It is the easiest crime in the world to prevent – you just decide not to do it. Through their RIDE program, our partners in the Ottawa Police, the RCMP, OPP, Military Police and the Ministry of Transportation are reminding us of that point.”
“Of the 305 deaths on OPP-patrolled roads in 2020, a total of 51 were alcohol/drug-related,” said OPP Acting Staff Sergeant Lisa Nicholas. “The OPP remains committed to ensuring Ontario roads are safe from alcohol-impaired and drug-impaired drivers and wants to remind drivers that no amount of alcohol or drugs in your system is safe when driving.”
Ottawa Police Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspectors, along with Ministry of Transportation (MTO) also joined the Operation in July to remind commercial drivers that they must have a BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) of 0 as well as zero presence of Cannabis in their body when driving. “Commercial vehicles are not typically a focus with the traditional evening/early morning RIDE Program,” said Sergeant Troy Froats of the Ottawa Police Impaired Countermeasures Section. “It will be the first time that a RIDE checks will focus specifically on ‘zero presence’ offences for commercial drivers in the city of Ottawa.”
This is a reminder that if you plan to drink or consume cannabis, plan your ride home first. You can use a designated driver, taxi, bus or Uber to get home safely. Call 911 to report a suspected impaired driver.