The final week of the RCMP Christmas Selective Traffic Enforcement / Check stop program from December 22, 2008 to January 2, 2009 resulted in numerous charges.
5610 vehicles being checked across the Province of Manitoba during 197 checkstops/roving patrols. As a result of those vehicles checked, 41 people were charged with either Impaired Driving or Drive Over .08. When requested, 5 drivers Refused to Provide a Breath Sample.
The average blood/alcohol reading was 178 mgs% (0.178 ), which is more than twice the legal limit. The highest reading was 245 mgs% (0.245), more than three times the legal limit. The consistently high averages remain a concern, as people with such high readings have lost a great deal of their motor skills and are a danger on our roadways.
During the same period of the 2007/2008 program there were 38 people charged for impaired driving related offences during 133 check stops.
Other stats for the final week of the 2008/2009 program saw:
• 13 – 24 hour roadside suspensions.
• 34 people were charged for not wearing their seat belts and an additional 548 other statute (mostly provincial) charges laid.
There was one fatal motor vehicle collision, resulting in the death of one person. Alcohol, non use of a seat belt and speed were contributing factors to the collision.
The four week total shows that 20,196 vehicles have been checked during 613 checkstops, with a total of 168 persons charged for Criminal Code Impaired Violations and a further 67 persons having their driver licences suspended for 24 hours as a result of roadside screening for alcohol consumption. There have been five fatal collisions resulting in the death of six persons, and 67 injury collisions reported. 217 persons have been charged with failing to wear seat belts and an additional 2195 other statute (mostly HTA) charges laid.
This compares with 11,789 vehicles checked during 394 checkstops in 2007/2008, which resulted in a total of 92 impaired/over .08 and refusal charges, with 24 – 24 hr suspensions issued. There were 5 fatal crashes resulting in 8 persons being killed. 166 seatbelt charges and 1619 other statute charges (majority HTA) were processed.
Sgt. Wayne Blackmore
RCMP Traffic Services
Ph: 984-4731
Cel: 299-5162
