DRPS completed its fourth week of the 2025 Festive R.I.D.E program, stopping nearly 3,000 vehicles and charging 13 drivers with impaired driving offences.
Officers conducted R.I.D.E checks across the Region with the following totals (the numbers in brackets reflect 2024 fourth week totals for comparison):
2926 (3757) Vehicles stopped by R.I.D.E.
147 (244) People given Roadside Breath Tests
12 (23) People received “3 Day Suspensions” for registering a “WARN”
0 (5) Novice Driver received a 3, 7 or 30 Licence Suspension
13 (16) People were charged with Impaired Driving Offences
0 (3) People arrested for non-impaired driving related offences
8 (5) Other Criminal Code Charges
123 (237) Charged with various Highway Traffic Act offences
3 (2) Drug Offences
During the fourth week of R.I.D.E. officers faced challenging weather conditions and cold temperatures. Our partners from Mothers Against Drunk Driving also joined us on the R.I.D.E. line to educate drivers about the impact of impaired driving.
Of the 13 impaired drivers removed from the road, one was a G2 driver who refused to identify themselves, refused to supply a breath sample into an approved screening device (ASD) and refused to exit their vehicle. This driver was arrested and charged with Refuse Lawful Demand as well as Obstruct Resist Police Officer.
A reminder that in Canada’s Criminal Code an “ASD Demand” refers to a police officer requiring a driver to provide a breath sample into an ASD, typically at the roadside. This demand requires the officer to have reasonable suspicion that the driver has alcohol in their system within the last three hours, serving as a quick screening tool, with refusal leading to criminal charges.
We remind everyone, “if you see something, say something”. Impaired driving is an emergency, please call 9-1-1 if you suspect an impaired driver.
A list of those charged can be found at www.drps.ca under R.I.D.E. Results.
Note: Under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, anyone charged with an impaired driving criminal offence will have their driver’s licence suspended for 90 days and their vehicle impounded automatically for seven days.
