NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE
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A Very Busy Night in Niagara During Labour Day Weekend R.I.D.E.
On Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, members of the Niagara Regional Police conducted R.I.D.E. checkpoints within the Cities of Welland and St. Catharines. Throughout the evening approximately 425 vehicles were stopped and the drivers were questioned regarding any alcohol and drug consumption.
Within the first 30 minutes, a 46-year-old male driver from Welland was arrested for impaired operation.
During the transition from Welland to St. Catharines, one of the officers stopped a vehicle as it sped past him and displayed signs of impaired driving. The vehicle was stopped in Niagara Falls and it was discovered that a 14-year-old male was operating the vehicle. He was subsequently charged with unlicensed driving.
In addition to the above incidents, officers also stopped 20 vehicles and requested the drivers provide a sample of their breath for analysis. Six drivers in total provided samples in the warning range and subsequently had their licences suspended for a period of three days.
Another driver was charged for driving while suspended and tickets were issued to other drivers for various traffic-related offences.
The Niagara Regional Police Service remains committed to reducing Impaired Driving Offences through education and the apprehension of offenders through enforcement programs like R.I.D.E. Impaired driving is still the leading criminal offence causing deaths in Canada.
This initiative has been made possible, in part, as a result of grant funding from the Ministry of the Solicitor General as part of the Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (R.I.D.E) program.
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