Think twice before driving impaired

As the summer winds to an end the Prince Rupert RCMP is wanting to continually remind the community that impaired driving enforcement is still at the forefront.

As a strategic priority, aligning with the City of Prince Rupert as well as the results of the community survey the Prince Rupert RCMP has targeted impaired driving by increasing patrols, road blocks and mandatory breath demands.

Fast facts:

•  While operating a conveyance including: a vehicle, an e-bike, moped, motorcycle, ATV/UTV, and anything operated by a motor powered by fuel or a battery (except a personal mobility device) an officer can demand a breath sample from the operator.
• Refusing to provide a sample upon the demand can result in criminal charges that are just as serious as blowing a fail (over 100 mg% of alcohol concentration per 100 ml of blood)
• The legal limit for full license class 5 drivers is 80 mg% of alcohol concentration per 100 ml of blood, however, you can still be charged or face penalties even if you alcohol concentration is not over that amount
• The Immediate Roadside Prohibition program from ICBC is a tool used by officers to help combat impaired driving
• An officer can also issue 24 hour prohibitions if they believe a person’s ability to operate a conveyance is affected by drugs or alcohol
• Impairment can also be caused by drugs, both prescription and illicit substances, be sure to follow your physician’s instructions when taking prescription drugs and be sure not to mix use with any substances, such as alcohol, without first consulting your doctor

Make a plan:

Enjoying a drink on the patio with friends at a restaurant or bar can be a great social event, just be sure to plan ahead. Some ways you can ensure that everyone gets home safe are:

• Have a designated driver who is fully licensed
• Take a taxi to and from the bar
• Have a friend or family member pick you up after

A story from earlier in the summer highlighted the problem we are seeing in Prince Rupert, when a road block was shut down after only 15 minutes due all the officers involved having an impaired operation investigation, Media Relations Officer Cst. Brody Hemrich said, Since the beginning of June over 30 impaired operation investigations have taken place where drivers were issued Immediate Roadside Prohibitions or charges being forwarded to Crown Counsel for consideration. It is imperative that people begin to understand the seriousness of this issue.

For more information regarding the types of impaired driving, risks, laws and enforcement you can visit the Government of Canada website.

If you want to report an impaired driver call the Prince Rupert RCMP at 250-624-2136 or 9-1-1 in case of an emergency.