National Impaired Driving Week is March 19-25 this year.
Tremendous progress has been made over the years to reduce impaired driving. But despite advances in laws and penalties, enforcement and awareness, some people continue to drive impaired.
Corman Park Police, along with agencies across Canada, focus on this issue year round, and will continue to do so in an effort to make our roadways safe. Beyond statistics are the innocent victims and survivors of impaired driving. Every year, hundreds of people are killed and thousands are injured in alcohol and/or drug-related crashes. These senseless deaths and injuries are 100% preventable.
We urge you to do your part not only during this week where Impaired Driving prevention is front and center, but year round. Impaired driving is 100% preventable. Everyone has the power to prevent it.
If you are going to be consuming alcohol or other intoxicants, planning ahead for a sober ride home can save your life or the lives of others. Call 911 to report suspected impaired drivers. The call you make could save a life.
Incidents of note
On February 23 at 8:10 p.m., a CPPS member stopped a Silver Ford F350 traveling northbound on Range Road 3051 north of Floral Road as it had no plate. The driver seemed to be slurring his speech and a subsequent roadside test resulted in a WARN. The driver produced a licence which did not match his description. Through investigation, the driver was found to have outstanding criminal warrants and conditions he was breaching. He was found to be in possession of stolen bank and credit cards as well as a quantity of crystal meth. He was transported to the Saskatoon RCMP Detachment. The accused was released on an undertaking to attend court in April on charges of Possession of Stolen Property, Obstruction, Fail to comply with a release order, Identity Fraud, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Forged Document.
On February 28, at 6:40 p.m., CPPS executed a traffic stop on a grey Honda Accord as the vehicle’s plates were expired. The driver displayed signs of cannabis impairment as his pupils were dilated and his eyes glazed and admitted to consuming cannabis. A sample of oral fluid resulted in a positive reading for THC. He was subsequently issued a 60-day driver’s license (DL) suspension and three day vehicle impound as per his age restriction not to consume any alcohol or drugs when driving.
On March 3 at 12:21 a.m., CPPS attended a report of a structure fire in the Valley Road area near Chennels Road. The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) was already on site, and advised that the homeowner could smell smoke in his house and observed smoke coming from the box of his wood burning stove. He utilized a fire extinguisher and called 911. The SFD attended and checked the fireplace and piping which appeared to be clear. Damage estimated at less than $500.00.
On March 3 at 11:20 a.m., CPPS responded to a RID complaint of an impaired driver on Highway 11 heading south towards Saskatoon. The vehicle was located and a traffic stop made. The driver presented signs of impairment by alcohol resulting in a roadside screening test which produced a FAIL. The suspect was taken to the Martensville RCMP detachment where he provided a breath sample with a reading of 260 mgs obtained twice. The driver was charged with Impaired Driving and Drive over .08 and will appear in provincial court later this month to answer to the charges.