R.I.D.E. Spot-checks continue to be an effective way of reducing impaired driving in our community, with the Espanola Police Service arresting two more impaired drivers during spot-checks in the first week of May.
On May 2 at 8:00 p.m., a 24-year old Whitefish resident was stopped at a R.I.D.E. Spot-check at the intersection of Highway 6 and Old Webbwood Road, when an officer detected alcohol coming from his breath. The officer gave the demand for a sample of the male’s breath into an approved screening device, which registered a “Fail,” and subsequent tests at the police station showed his blood alcohol content was 122 mgs and 111 mgs per 100 ml of blood. In addition to being charged with driving with more than 80 mgs of alcohol in his blood, he received an immediate 90-day licence suspension, and a 7-day vehicle impoundment. He will appear in Espanola Court on June 7, 2016, to answer to his charges.
On May 7 at 11:00 p.m., officers were back at Highway 6 and Old Webbwood Road conducting a R.I.D.E. Spot-check, when a 23-year old Naughton resident came through the spot-check with alcohol on his breath. As a result, the officer obtained a sample of his breath into the approved screening device, which registered a “Fail.” The male was arrested for having over 80 mgs of alcohol in his blood, and transported to the police station where two samples of his breath showed his blood alcohol content was 107 mgs and 106 mgs of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. He was charged with one count of driving with more than 80 mgs of alcohol in his blood, and two counts of fail to comply with a recognizance, as he was breaching a court imposed curfew, and failing to abstain from alcohol. He was also given an immediate 90-day licence suspension, and his vehicle impounded for 7-days. He appeared in bail court on May 8, to answer to his charges.
Since the beginning of 2016, the Espanola Police Service have charged 7 individuals with Impaired Operation of a vehicle, and issued another 5 licence suspensions ranging from 3-days to 90-days in duration, during R.I.D.E. Spot-checks and routine patrol.
