MANITOULIN—While the Manitoulin detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has seen a significant increase in the number of impaired driving charges it has laid up to April 14 of this year, compared with this time over the past six years, the UCCM Anishnaabe Police Services (UCCM APS) and Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service (WTPS) are report- ing that numbers are staying at the same or lower levels in the communities they serve.
“The Manitoulin detachment of the OPP, which also includes Espanola, has had 19 impaired driving related occurrences between January 1 and April 15. We are only midway through the fourth month of the year, said OPP Constable John Hill explained that while there have been 19 charges of impaired driving charges laid by the Manitoulin detachment this year, during this same time period in 2017 there had been 12 charges, eight in 2018, seven in 2019, seven in 2020, 21 in 2021 and 12 in 2022. The 19 charges this year includes 13 impaired by alcohol and six impaired by drugs. The source for
these 19 occurrences included eight traffic stops initiated by officers, seven traffic and impaired driving complaints from the public and four traffic collisions.
“The message is that the police, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and concerned citizens across Canada have been focussed on concerns with impaired driving for decades. But we are still seeing people driving impaired by alcohol or cannabis,” said Constable Hill.
Constable Hill noted that one reason numbers of impaired charges have gone up is that more members of the public, including family members, are calling in traffic complaints of drivers who are suspected of using alcohol or cannabis. “For example, we had three different complaints made by members of the public to one driver that was charged recently.”
“People are calling police on suspected impaired drivers, which is really good news,” said Constable Hill. “The police can’t be everywhere. It is definitely a positive that the community is partnering with the police.”
Constable Hill said “sometimes people think that it is okay if they use cannabis and operate a motor vehicle. But cannabis does impair a person as do some prescription medications.”
“The OPP’s priority will continue to be public safety,” said
Inspector Megan Moriarty, detachment commander, Manitoulin OPP. “Our officers are out patrolling and making a difference every day, but we need the public’s help to reduce impaired driving, which is one of the lead- ing causes of criminal death in
Canada. If you are drinking, make a plan not to drive. Use prescription drugs only as directed by your doctor and if you suspect an impaired driver call 9-1-1 immediately.”
Jason Spooner, acting chief of police for the WTPS said, “our
numbers (in relation to impaired drivers) have been fairly consistent in the past five years. As always, we encourage anyone who suspects an impaired driver to call 911 immediately. Also, we are making reduce impaired driving everywhere (RIDE) checks and traffic enforcement/education a summer priority in Wikwemikong.”
Acting Chief of Police Spooner explained that in the past six years, during the period of January 1 to April 15 by year, the number of (impaired driving, impaired driver over 80 milligrams and refuse breath sample) charges in 2017 was seven (four drivers charged), eight in 2018 (five drivers charged), five in 2019 (three drivers charged), five in
2020 and 2021 (three drivers charged in each year), two in 2022 (one driver charged) and six in 2023 (three drivers charged).
Brad Mack, staff sergeant of the UCCM APS told The Expositor, “It should be zero charges across the board,” and that drivers should never drive after drink- ing or taking drugs.
“Our impaired driving statistics from 2017 to present 2023 for the entire year, January 1 to December 31, include 15 drivers charged with impaired by alcohol or drugs in 2017, six in 2018, seven in 2019, 10 in 2020, 14 in 2021, 11 in 2022 and two thus far in 2023,” said Staff Sergeant Mack. He said while the numbers went down in 2018 and 2019, they seem to be creeping back up again.
