Durham Regional Police laid fewer impaired driving charges during the 2025 Festive RIDE campaign compared to the previous year, but officers say the numbers remain concerning.
Police reported that 85 drivers were charged with impaired driving offences during the six-week enforcement campaign, which ran from Nov. 15, 2025, to Jan. 1, 2026. This represents a decrease from 105 arrests in 2024.
During the campaign, officers stopped 12,465 vehicles across Durham Region. Of those drivers, 591 were given roadside breath tests, while 53 received three-day licence suspensions for registering a WARN-range reading. An additional 13 novice drivers had their licences suspended for alcohol or drug consumption.
When measured against the total number of vehicles stopped, the impaired driving arrest rate was 0.69 per cent, slightly higher than the 0.65 per cent rate recorded in 2024. When both criminal charges and administrative suspensions are combined, police said just over one per cent of drivers stopped faced enforcement action.
“That may sound like a small number, but in a region of more than 780,000 residents — and with thousands more travelling through Durham every day — each impaired driver puts lives at risk,” said Sgt. Greg Carroll, who leads the RIDE program. “Impaired driving is dangerous, unacceptable and entirely preventable. We can do better, Durham Region.”
The 85 impaired drivers arrested face a combined 119 criminal charges, including impaired operation, exceeding the legal blood-alcohol limit, and refusal to provide a breath sample. Police also laid 62 additional Criminal Code charges, issued 945 Highway Traffic Act tickets, and charged 11 people with drug offences. Officers also issued 20 charges under the Cannabis Act.
Durham police continue to urge drivers to plan ahead, arrange safe transportation, and avoid driving while impaired.
Photo Credits : https://www.durhamregion.com/news/crime/durham-cops-ride-worrying-trends/article_a64bd5fe-85b0-5da1-af1a-0b4d096a1670.html
