By Andrea Nicholl
RCMP are ready to stop traffic, spread a message and help save some lives.
This week marks Impaired Driving Awareness Week and Lloydminster RCMP warn of possible travel delays, as they take to the streets conducting checkstops throughout the city.
“It’s the first time we’ve gone all-out like this for an entire week, but it’s a necessity,” said Cst. David Kadun of Lloydminster RCMP traffic services. “In the city of Lloydminster, in regards to impaired driving, statistics are steady, they’re not going down, and in some cases, they’re actually going up and we don’t know why.”
Kadun says the Awareness Week was a two-month preparation, but hopes the effort sends a clear message and deters people from drinking and driving.
“When we’ve done checkstops in the past we’re finding the impaired drivers, we’re finding the open alcohol in the vehicles and we don’t understand why the public isn’t getting the message: impaired driving is dangerous, it causes death, it causes bodily harm and it’s horrible for the insurance industry,” said Kadun, adding 360 impaired charges were laid last year.
RCMP have partnered with a variety organizations to make the week-long project possible. Mothers Against Drinking and Driving and Students Against Drinking and Driving- Holy Rosary High School Chapter will attend a variety of checkstops providing information and education relating to impaired driving, the Lloydminster Fire Department and Britannia Wilton Fire Department will conduct traffic control, Wilton Police Services will conduct checkstops in areas outside of the city and SGI will primarily fund the project, allowing RCMP to put more members on the road.
“If you’ve had one drink, it’s too much,” said Kadun. “If you’re going to drink don’t drive.”
Police can lay a 24 hour driving suspension to those with a blood alcohol level of .40 (40 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood) and can lay impaired driving charges to those with a blood alcohol content of .80 or more ( 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood).
Impaired driving is a criminal offence, and under the Criminal Code of Canada is punishable by a minimum $1,000 fine upon a guilty plea and up to five years imprisonment. If bodily harm occurs the maximum punishment is 10 years imprisonment and if death occurs the maximum punishment is life imprisonment.