Cold Lake RCMP Continue to Combat Impaired Driving

Public concerns fuel RCMP focus on stopping impaired driving

Following consultations with the public, the Cold Lake RCMP have put extra attention on reducing impaired driving, by increasing proactive approaches to stop the offense. S/Sgt Jeremie Landry with the Cold Lake Detachment explains citizens have really driven their concerns home.

The RCMP have set a priority for 2016 to, “increase detection and laying of charges for impaired drivers,” says S/Sgt Landry. The increase focus is, “directly related to community consultations that we did in January, February and March. [The community] suggestions [indicated] that we focus on impaired driving, as it was believed to be quite a concern in the community.”

Ways the RCMP have proactively worked towards decreasing impaired driving is through education – both letting the public know suspected impaired driving calls are wanted and by letting the public know the dangers of impaired driving to help discourage people from committing the offense. RCMP have also increase patrols and checkstops.

Thanks to these proactive measures, the RCMP were able to take three suspected impaired drivers off the road recently.

On August 8th, RCMP received two complaints of impaired driver at 11:30 pm, on Highway 28 in Cold Lake. RCMP were able to located the suspect vehicle on Highway 28 and 53 street. The driver showed signs of being impaired and was arrested for impaired operation of a motor vehicle. RCMP arrested a 26 year old man from Lac La Biche, who was brought back to the detachment and provided two breath samples over double the legal limit.

On August 16th, at 1:00 am, Cold Lake RCMP received a complaint of a male that was parked at the 711 and was passed out in the vehicle, behind the wheel. RCMP attended and arrested a 44 year old male, from Big Island Lake Cree Territory, Saskatchewan for impaired care & control of a motor vehicle. The male’s vehicle was seized and towed; while the man was brought back to the detachment and provided two breath samples over the legal limit. The man was released on a promise to appear to attend court, in Cold Lake, on September 14th.

On August 17th, just before midnight, the Cold Lake Detachment was conducting a checkstop on 38th street & 50th avenue, when a vehicle came through the checkstop. The driver was visibly impaired and was arrested for impaired operation of a motor vehicle. “We have charged a 31 year old male, from Cold Lake, with operating a motor vehicle while impaired and operating a motor vehicle while over the legal limit,” confirms S/Sgt Landry. His vehicle was towed and seized, while the man was brought to the detachment, where he provided two breath samples over the legal limit.  Once sober, the male was released on a promise to appear to attend court on October 26th at 10:00 am.