Checkstop stats seem to improve

Details

Published on Monday, January 12, 2015

By Tara Seel

      Media Relations Officer

Week three of the RCMP Holiday Checkstop Program (Dec. 15-21) resulted in 2,863 vehicles checked at 90 stops. Thirteen people were charged with either impaired driving (alcohol) or driving over .08.

The average blood/alcohol reading was 0.205 – approximately 2.5 times the legal limit. The highest blood/alcohol reading was 0.390; the driver was operating a snowmobile near Nelson House. Five people were charged with refusing a breath demand. Other statistics from week three include17 alcohol-related tiered administrative roadside suspensions,  457 other traffic-related provincial statute (Highway Traffic Act) charges laid; eight Liquor & Gaming Control Act (LGCA) offences; six other Criminal Code driving offences; and approximately 73 warnings were issued.

There was one traffic-related fatality between two semis on Hwy. 1, west of St Francois Xavier; icy road conditions contributed to the death of one driver. 

Five seizures under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act were made this week and members acted on a Canada-wide immigration warrant for a US citizen.

Last year during week three there was also one traffic-related fatality. RCMP members conducted 91 checkstops, checking 2,542 vehicles resulting in 35 people being charged with Criminal Code Impaired Driving offences.

The final week (Dec. 22-Jan. 1) of checkstop resulted in 1,596 vehicles checked at 107 Checkstops. Seventeen people were charged with either impaired driving or driving over .08. The average blood/alcohol reading was 0.163, just over twice the legal limit; the highest blood/alcohol reading was 0.260. Six people were charged with breathalizer refusal and three were charged with impaired by a drug.

Thirteen administrative roadside suspensions were issued, 11 people were charged for not wearing their seatbelts, 296 other traffic-related Highway Traffic Act charges were laid, 11 charges were made under the Liquor & Gaming Control Act and there were two Criminal Code driving offences. 

Last year during week four, RCMP held 74 Checkstops, checking 2,096 vehicles resulting in 28 people being charged with impaired driving. There was one fatal motor vehicle collision last year during week four; no fatailites were reported this year.

The month-long total for the RCMP Christmas Checkstop Program shows that 9,512 vehicles were checked during 348 Checkstops, with 93 people being charged with an impaired driving offence. RCMP also issued 58 tiered administrative suspensions, 18 other Criminal Code driving offences, 45 seatbelt fines, 29 liquor/gaming charges and 1,428 other Highway Traffic Act offences. 

Last year’s program saw 10,094 vehicles checked at 357 checkstops, resulting in 110 people being charged with impaired driving. RCMP issued 46 alcohol-related suspensions, 27 other Criminal Code driving offences, 33 charges for seatbelts, 50 liquor offences and 1,042 other Highway Act offences. Five people were killed in four separate traffic collisions last year during the program – none of the deaths were a result of impaired driving.