By CHIEF RON CHOMYN, Corman Park Police Service
Are you worried about your employees and guests driving home after a Christmas party or get together? There is food, fun, music and at many occasions, alcohol. In the end, some people take a cab home, which is great but a few people take the risk and drive home under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Have a plan for sober driving.
There are no excuses for taking a risk anymore, thinking you’re OK and hopping behind the wheel with a bit too much in you…..none at all.
Uber, taxis, designated drivers, Operation Red Nose…and more options are available. Reserve a ride home prior to going out.
I’m sure there are people who don’t intend to drive after drinking or using cannabis, but don’t plan ahead. So when the taxi says it’s going to be an hour wait, they make the decision to drive.
Impaired driving continues to be one of the leading causes of fatalities on our roads throughout the province…don’t make Christmas memorable for the wrong reason!!
INCIDENTS OF NOTE
On December 2 at 12:15 a.m., CPPS performed a traffic stop on Grasswood Road near Highway 11. The driver denied alcohol consumption; however a mandatory demand was made. The driver provided a breath sample into an approved screening device, resulting in a WARN. The driver was subsequently issued a three-day drivers license suspension and a three day vehicle impound.
On November 23 at approximately 2:55 a.m., CPPS observed a white Ford Escape travelling at 100 kmh in a 60 kmh zone while southbound at Clarence and Middleton. Strong smell alcohol coming from driver’s breath, was read the ASD demand which had the result of FAIL. The driver was arrested for impaired operation and exceeding 80mg%, transported to Saskatoon RCMP where he provided one sample of breath that had the result of 200mg%, and a sample that was determined to be an interfering substance. EMS attended to the cell block, and did not observe anything obviously wrong with him; however, he was transported to hospital as a precaution. He was released on an Appearance notice for a court date
On November 28 at 5:08 a.m., a driver was found to be operating a vehicle under the influence of cocaine after testing positive on ADSE. The adult driver, who was already suspended from driving, was subsequently issued an additional 21 day driver’s license suspension and seven day vehicle impound as this was her second offence for operating under the influence.
On December 4 at 4:10 p.m., CPPS stopped to check on an abandoned vehicle parked off Highway 12 service lane just south of Township Road 381, with the engine running and the windows cracked open. A strong odour of cannabis was coming was from within the vehicle. Police spoke with the male driver who advised he had consumed cannabis 20 minutes before, grew tired, and stopped to nap. He provided a sample of oral fluid resulting in a positive reading for THC, issued a 72-hour driver’s license suspension and three day vehicle impound as per SGI.
On December 5 at 2:14 p.m., on Valley Rd near Township Road 362, an adult male was found to be operating a white Dodge Ram under the influence of cannabis after testing positive on ADSE. He was already suspended from driving x 9, was issued an additional 120 day DL suspension and 37 day vehicle impound as this was his second offence for operating under the influence.