29 DRIVERS CHARGED WITH IMPAIRED-RELATED OFFENCES THIS PAST WEEK IN YORK REGION

The troubling trend continues with 29 impaired drivers being removed from York Region roads this past week, adding to the more than 200 impaired-related criminal charges laid already this year. York Regional Police thanks members of the community for helping us stop and arrest impaired drivers by calling 9-1-1. We consider these incidents a life-threatening crime in progress and will continue to respond to these calls. On Monday, February 11, 2019, shortly after 5 p.m., police were called to Green Lane west of Leslie Street in the Town of East Gwillimbury for a report of a driver asleep at the wheel of his pick-up truck. When officers arrived they found the vehicle waiting to turn left from Green Lane into a transit station. Officers were able to shut off the vehicle and after numerous attempts were able to wake up the driver who smelled of alcohol. He was placed under arrest and transported to #1 District for a breath test, where he blew more than two-and-a-half times the legal limit. The legal consequences of an impaired driving charge can include roadside vehicle impoundment and automatic driver’s licence suspension, as well as further consequences imposed by the courts, including longer licence suspensions, large fines and in some cases, jail time. We are reminding drivers that York Regional Police conducts RIDE spot checks year-round and that our officers are always watching for suspected impaired drivers. We also continue to encourage citizens to call 9-1-1 if you spot a suspected impaired driver.