Impaired driving charges laid

By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: October 21, 2008

North Okanagan RCMP went looking for impaired drivers on the weekend. And they found them. Members of the North Okanagan Traffic Services and Integrated Road Safety Units laid nine impaired driving charges and issued 10, 24-hour suspensions over two nights of manning vehicle check stops in Vernon. “This is quite indicative of what’s out there,” said RCMP spokesman Gord Molendyk. “We concentrated on targeting drivers impaired by drugs and/or alcohol, and it’s quite a number. “We warned the public that we were going to be doing this, stepping up our enforcement, and still, this is what’s out there.” Laws enforced by police were Criminal Code driving offences (impaired driving by alcohol or a drug), provincial laws (such as driving with a valid driver’s licence) and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Police issued two 24-hour suspensions related to drugs, made three illegal drug seizures and handed out six charges under the Liquor Control Act. Four people were ticketed for not wearing seatbelts, two more were charged for running stop signs and 23 miscellaneous tickets were handed out by police. One man was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking a narcotic, and another male spent the night in cells for being drunk in a public place. “We’d like to remind the public that every year people are killed in motor vehicle crashes involving impaired driving and/or failing to wear seatbelts,” said Const. Steve Ouston., with North Okanagan Traffic Services.Local RCMP will continue with their enforcement initiatives to help keep the roads safe.