From December 3 to December 9, 2012, the RCMP Holiday Checkstop Program has resulted in numerous charges.
• 2603 vehicles were checked across Manitoba during 69 Checkstops
• 19 people were charged with either Impaired Driving or Drive Over .08
• The average blood/alcohol reading was 156 mgs% (0.156) – roughly twice the legal limit
• The highest blood/alcohol reading was 260 mgs% (0.260) – over three times the legal limit
• An additional 4 people were charged with Refusal and 1 person was charged with Impaired by a Drug
Other Stats from week one of the 2012/2013 program include:
• Ten (10) 24-hour alcohol related roadside suspensions
• 11 people charged for not wearing their seatbelts
• 360 other traffic related provincial statute (Highway Traffic Act) charges laid
• 4 other Criminal Code driving offences
• 4 Drug seizures under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, including 2 charges of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking
There were no fatal collisions during the past week.
Last year during week one, there were three traffic-related fatalities. RCMP members conducted 147 checkstops – checking 6717 vehicles resulting in 36 people being charged with Criminal Code Impaired Driving.
RCMP Members pulled over less vehicles than last year, attributing some of the decrease to the cold weather and slippery roads, which made traffic conditions dangerous for conducting checkstops this past weekend.
Despite icy road conditions, a West District Traffic officer (based out of Virden) was able to stop one driver traveling at 225 km/hr in a 100 km/hr zone on the Trans Canada Highway in the RM of North Cypress. The 19-year-old male driver was also charged under Section 249(1)(a) of the Criminal Code for Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle.
