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Number of impaired driving charges up sharply in Nipissing West OPP Detachment coverage area

The number of impaired drivers in the Nipissing West cluster is up over last year and the year’s not done yet.

OPP Constable Michelle Coulombe, the Media Relations and Community Safety Officer, says 55 people have been charged with impaired driving so far this year to the end of November compared to 32 for all of 2018.

And for the first week of December, three more people were charged for impaired by alcohol.

Coulombe points out the geographic area takes in the Nipissing West, Sudbury, Noelville and Warren OPP detachments.

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Even when the Nipissing West OPP stats are removed from the data because the detachment didn’t exist until this year and only the figures from the Sudbury, Warren and Noelville detachments are considered, the OPP have charged 33 people to the end of November compared to last year’s grand total of 32.

Coulombe says the rise is concerning because the year’s not done yet.

Although she couldn’t provide a local breakdown, it’s believed among the 33 people charged, some were charged for being impaired due to drugs.

“We’re seeing more impaired by drugs (in Ontario) this year which is a concerning issue,” she said.

“We’re hoping this is not a growing trend but our public awareness campaigns about not driving while impaired will continue.”

Coulombe says no amount of alcohol or drugs in a person’s system is safe when driving.

Her advice and advice from the OPP is to have a backup plan if you plan to drink.

Coulombe says there are many options like having a designated driver, taking a cab or using public transit, staying the night or calling someone who has not been drinking to pick you up.

Coulombe says collisions, where alcohol or drugs are involved, are preventable.

The Festive Ride season is fully underway by the OPP and continues until January 2nd.

Coulombe says what some motorists may not realize is there was a change last December in alcohol roadside tests.

“Police can now demand a roadside breath sample of any lawfully stopped driver without having to suspect that the driver is impaired by alcohol,” she said.

“The officer doesn’t need a reason.  It can be random and if you refuse to provide a sample, you can be charged for refusal.”

On driving, while impaired by drugs, Coulombe says more officers are now trained as drug recognition experts.

She’s again emphasizing that people not engage in driving while impaired by either alcohol or drugs and to get home using an alternative method.

From November 15th to the 29th five people were charged with impaired driving.

Two of the incidents took place in West Nipissing, and the other infractions occurred in Verner, Field and Markstay-Warren.

Up to Tuesday night in the Nipissing West Detachment area, of the three people charged during the first week of December two were stopped in Sturgeon Falls and the other in Verner.

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