The Airdrie Integrated Traffic Unit (ITU) charged three people with impaired driving on Highway 2 in a 24-hour period, between Aug. 14 and 15.
On Aug. 14 shortly before 3 p.m., a member of the ITU was conducting speed enforcement on Highway 2, north of Airdrie. When he clocked a dark grey Ford F-150 pickup truck going over 140 km/h travelling southbound in a 110 km/h zone.
The driver, a 39-year-old man from Calgary, was arrested for impaired driving with a blood alcohol content that was nearly double the legal limit of .08.
On Aug. 15 just before 8 a.m., an Airdrie ITU officer was travelling southbound on Highway 2 north of Airdrie and witnessed a dark blue Dodge Durango weaving in the southbound lane on the highway.
The officer discovered the license plate on the Durango was registered to another vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. The driver, a 42-year-old man from Carstairs, was arrested for impaired driving with a blood-alcohol content twice the legal limit.
That same afternoon, shortly after 3 p.m., members were advised of another impaired driver travelling southbound on Highway 2 approaching Airdrie. The suspect vehicle was a blue Jeep Patriot and was described by 911 callers as driving erratically.
Airdrie ITU officers located the vehicle a short time later as it approached Airdrie.
The driver of the Jeep, a 26-year-old man from Calgary was arrested for impaired driving and he too provided breath samples that were more than twice the legal limit.
“We’re always on the lookout for impaired drivers,” said Airdrie ITU Cpl. Darrin Turnbull.
“During August, we have extra check stops and some extra officers cracking down.”
Turnbull says the problem of impaired driving stems from a lack of planning ahead, resulting in poor decision making.
“You should plan your safe ride home before you even start drinking,” said Turnbull.
“Once you start drinking, it impairs your decision-making ability and in a lot of cases, people, unfortunately, make the wrong decision to get behind the wheel after they’ve been drinking.”
All three drivers were arrested and their licenses suspended until they appear in court.
The names of the three drivers who were arrested have not be released as charges have not yet been formally laid.
“We arrested them on the scene and then they are released on a promise to appear in court,” said Turnbull.
“Until that time though we won’t be releasing any names.”
Officers from all of the ITUs in the province will continue to crack down on impaired driving and are urging any motorists who suspect an impaired driver to call 911, Turnbull added.
