Impaired driving continues to be a major concern on local roads with several arrests in recent days in the Northumberland and Quinte areas.
According to Northumberland OPP, three drivers were arrested just last weekend in separate incidents.
In one incident last Sunday, April 12, in the Township of Alnwick/Haldimand at about 10:30 p.m., police said a Quinte West resident was arrested and charged.
Initially, the accused was stopped after an officer allegedly observed a sedan unable to maintain its lane, and the vehicle pulled over on the shoulder of a Hwy. 401 off-ramp, reported OPP.
Conversation with the accused led the officer to suspect the driver had been consuming alcohol and then sobriety testing was initiated, resulting in a registered “fail” on a roadside screening device and arrest, added police.
The accused 29-year-old was charged with operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus), operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs and driving with liquor readily available.
Meanwhile, last Saturday morning a 42-year-old Cobourg resident was arrested after police said automated licence plate reader (ALPR) technology initially alerted an officer of a suspended licence associated with an SUV during patrol efforts in the Burnham and Division streets area.
An arrest ended up being made at the scene, and the accused charged with operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus) and operation while prohibited.
Later that night in the Trent Hills area, OPP said an officer tackling speed enforcement in the County Road 45 area initially stopped an SUV for speeding, which led to an impaired driving arrest for a 46-year-old Hastings resident.
Police said the accused was charged with operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus), operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs, drive motor vehicle – perform stunt – excessive speed (stunt driving) and driving with open liquor.
In nearby Quinte West, OPP also reported two impaired driving arrests Monday.
In the one incident Monday evening, police said a traffic stop in the Dundas Street West area led to an impaired driving investigation and the arrest of a 58-year-old Quinte West resident.
The accused is charged with operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs, and operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus.)
Later Monday, at about 11:15 p.m., another traffic stop in the Queen Street Trenton area again led police to suspect a motorist may have been under the influence of alcohol and subsequently an arrest.
The 43-year-old Quinte West resident was charged with operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus), operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs, and having care or control of a vehicle or boat with cannabis and liquor readily available, as well as Highway Traffic Act-related offences, according to OPP.
None of these charges in the above separate calls have been proven in court.
Police continue to call on motorists to plan ahead before getting behind the wheel and ask citizens to report suspected impaired driving by calling 911.
Impaired driving charges also result in 90-day licence suspensions and seven-day vehicle impounds.
