The OPP are kicking off their Festive Ride program for 2022.
The campaign kicks off on November 16 this year for the Perth County OPP and Stratford Police Services. That means an increased police presence with officers conducting RIDE checks throughout Perth County. Until January 2, police will be looking for drivers impaired by drugs and alcohol more intensely.
"Motorists are reminded that officers regularly conduct Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS) with drivers who are lawfully pulled over and they will be ramping up this investigative measure, including RIDE stops, throughout the campaign. Under the MAS law, an officer with an approved alcohol screening device can demand a breath sample from any driver without having a reasonable suspicion that they have alcohol in their body," says a release from the OPP. "Under impaired driving laws, the OPP can also demand that a driver submit to a Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) and a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluation."
In 2021, the Festive Ride campaign resulted in charges against 7 drivers in Perth County for impaired driving. Across the province, 655 drivers were charged for driving while impaired on OPP patrolled roads and trails.
