The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is highlighting its efforts to combat drunk and high drivers, as National Impaired Driving Prevention Week kicks off.
The CBSA said driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs continues to kill or injure more Canadians than any other crime.
It also remains the single most important factor contributing to serious road crashes.
Since January 1, 2025, CBSA officers at land ports of entry in the Southern Ontario Region, including the Blue Water Bridge, arrested 211 people for impaired-driving-related offences.
The CBSA said officers are trained to recognize signs of alcohol and drug impairment and can use a test or device to confirm whether someone is under the influence.
As an example, border officers arrested a 31-year-old Michigan man on February 14 of this year.
The officer allegedly detected a strong odour of cannabis and several signs of drug impairment during a secondary examination.
The driver was subsequently handed over to the local police.
A traveller from Ohio was arrested at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor on January 10 for operating a vehicle while impaired under the Criminal Code.
"The CBSA, working with its law enforcement partners across Southern Ontario, is making our roads safer for everyone by stopping impaired drivers," said CBSA Regional Director General for the Southern Ontario Region, Michael Prosia in a news release. "The decisive actions of border services officers not only protect our communities but also underscore the vital importance of responsible driving."
The Criminal Code prohibits driving while impaired to any degree by drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both.
Penalties range from a mandatory minimum fine to life imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offence.
National Impaired Driving Prevention Week is from March 16 to March 22.
