With the Festive RIDE campaign now officially wrapped up, Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt has shared results from the annual holiday blitz on the province’s roads.
The campaign stretched from November 21, 2024, to January 1, 2025.
Drivers caught face a one-year licence suspension and hefty financial penalties under the Criminal Code.
Sgt. Schmidt says too many cases have tragic results.
Scmidt adds the OPP issued 155 roadside Warn Range Suspensions to drivers who are making poor decisions.
Officers carried out 9,268 RIDE checkpoints across the province including several in our listening area.
In Elgin county, there were 161 Festive RIDE events with 13 impaired driving charges and 3 warn-range suspensions. This compares to 28 charges last year and 2 warn-range suspensions.
The OPP thanks citizens who acted as designated drivers or found alternative ways to get home safely. The force urges everyone who has alcohol in their plans, to think ahead to prevent tragedies.
Written by: Bob Perreault
