Despite the closure of bars and lounges and a ban on social gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Alberta RCMP is still urging residents to not drive impaired this holiday season.
According to Cst. Mike Hibbs with Alberta RCMP K Division’s traffic services team, police will continue to conduct check stops throughout the holidays in the lead-up to New Year’s Eve.
“COVID-19 has certainly slowed things down for the Christmas season, but there are still people who may be indulging at their homes,” he said. “That is OK – you can still celebrate the season – but we want to make sure you don’t get behind the wheel and drive.”
According to a press release from Alberta RCMP, more than 6,000 impaired driving charges were laid in 2019, and approximately 30 per cent of all fatal vehicle collisions in the jurisdiction involved alcohol or drugs.
This year, National Impaired Driving Enforcement Day was recognized Dec. 5. On that date, RCMP detachments throughout Alberta conducted check stops to ensure impaired drivers were apprehended and removed from the roads.
According to Alberta RCMP, the check stop blitz resulted in the removal of 48 impaired drivers. Of those 48 motorists, 26 received Immediate Roadside Sanctions, 10 received warnings and one refused to provide a roadside breath sample.
Hibbs said RCMP will continue to monitor the roads for impaired drivers throughout the holidays, despite pandemic-related restrictions in place.
“Usually, we see an increase in traffic on the highways at this time of year, when people are travelling to visit family or friends,” he said. “Obviously, we can’t do that this year, but there might still be people on the highways, and we encourage people to be patient and reduce their speeds.”
As New Year’s Eve is typically one of the most notorious nights for laying impaired driving charges, Hibbs said Alberta RCMP is asking motorists to remember that driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol impairs your judgment and reaction time, is a dangerous criminal offence and is always preventable.
“We still encourage everyone to have a good time and enjoy Christmas,” he said. “We know it’s going to be a hard Christmas for everyone. If you want to celebrate with your close family, don’t drink and drive. Just have a great time.”
Hibbs also mentioned the recent implementation of Bill 21 – the Provincial Administrative Penalties Act – which the Alberta legislature passed earlier this year. According to Hibbs, the new legislation invokes harsher roadside penalties for impaired driving charges, such as fines up to $2,000, vehicle seizures up to 30 days, new mandatory education programs and increased driver’s license suspensions for repeat offenders.
The new law also includes an online dispute system for first-time offenders.
“We’ll be out there enforcing the new regulations – the new bill is now out – so the penalties for impaired driving are more severe now than they were in the past,” Hibbs said. “Keep that in mind if you think about driving under the influence.”
To learn about the newly implemented provincial sanctions surrounding impaired driving, visit the Government of Alberta’s website. For more traffic safety information, follow Alberta RCMP on Facebook @RCMPinAlberta and Twitter @RCMPAlberta.
