The second week of the RCMP Christmas Checkstop program from December 14, 2009, to December 20, 2009 has resulted in numerous charges.
5586 vehicles being checked across the Province of Manitoba during 130 checkstops/roving patrols. Of those vehicles checked, 15 people were charged with either impaired driving or drive over .08 and another one person was charged with refusing to provide a breath sample, for a total of 16 criminal code impaired violations.
The average blood/alcohol reading was 135 mgs%(0.135), which is nearing twice the legal limit. The highest reading was 200 mgs%(0.20), more than twice the legal limit.
During the same period of the 2008/2009 program, there were 37 people charged for impaired driving related offences.
Other stats for the second week of the 2009/2010 program saw 11 – 24 hour roadside suspensions.
68 people charged for not wearing their seatbelts and an additional 744 other provincial statute charges laid.
There was one fatal motor vehicle collision, involving a vehicle driver being struck and killed by a tractor-trailer unit. The driver may have had vehicle troubles and was attempting to flag down a passing vehicle when the collision occurred. The collision occurred during night time and alcohol was not a factor.
The two week total shows that 12,085 vehicles have been checked with a total of 58 persons charged for criminal code impaired violations, with a further 38 persons having their driver licences suspended for 24 hours as a result of roadside screening for alcohol consumption. There have been three fatal collisions and 26 injury collisions reported. 202 persons have been charged with failing to wear seatbelts and an additional 1582 statute(mostly HTA)/LCA and CDSA charges laid.
Sgt. Wayne Blackmore
Traffic Services
Ph.(204) 984-4731
Cell.(204) 299-5162