NORTHWEST REGION – As part of the Canada Day Week traffic campaign, OPP Northwest Region officers conducted a traffic enforcement blitz which focused on targeting poor driving behaviour on roadways, waterways, and trails.
The campaign attempted to reduce collisions by focusing on impaired driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving, and seatbelt use.
OPP laid 2,034 charges across the region. Officers issued several charges including 1,160 speeding charges, 67 seatbelt infractions, 61 impaired driving charges, nine stunt driving charges, and eight distracted driving charges.
The proactive traffic blitz resulted in two Winnipeg residents facing charges on the evening of June 29 in Red Lake.
Red Lake OPP were conducting general patrol on Highway 125 when they observed a motor vehicle parked halfway on the road.
The investigation determined the driver was impaired by alcohol and upon further testing the driver had a blood alcohol concentration of 80 plus.
As a result, a 31-year-old from Winnipeg, Manitoba was arrested and charged with impaired driving, driving with open liquor, and driving without a licence.
The 23-year-old passenger from Winnipeg was arrested and charged with failure to self-identify and intoxication in a public place.
Both accused were released from custody and are scheduled to appear before the court in August.
Of the 99 total charges laid in Kenora, 15 individuals were charged with impaired driving during the blitz.
The OPP detachment reminds motorists that keeping the roads safe depends on the public's ability to drink and consume drugs responsibility.
“If you plan on drinking or consuming drugs, plan to not drive. Instead, arrange for a designated driver, take a taxi, or come up with another plan that takes impaired driving completely out of the picture,” the OPP Northwest Region said in a release.
In the early morning of June 29, Kenora OPP officers were conducting a general patrol in the area of Lakeview Drive when they stopped a motor vehicle for a traffic violation.
During the traffic stop, officers determined that the driver was impaired by alcohol.
Further testing revealed the driver had a blood alcohol concentration of 80 plus.
As a result, a 23-year-old from Kenora was arrested and charged with impaired driving.
The accused has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the court later this month.
The OPP said they rely on the public to report crimes. Citizens are encouraged to call police if they suspect that someone is driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. These measures can go a long way in keeping impaired drivers off our roads.
Just after 8:30 p.m. on the same day, Kenora OPP responded to a traffic complaint of a suspected impaired driver at a business on Main Street South.
The investigation determined that the driver was impaired by drugs.
As a result, a 34-year-old from Keewatin was arrested and charged with impaired driving.
The accused has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the court later this month.
