THUNDER BAY – City police are hitting the trails in search of snowmobilers who might have imbibed a little too much to ride.
Traffic Sgt. Gordon Snyder said the department plans to step up enforcement and reminded the public that driving a snowmobile while intoxicated is every bit as illegal as getting behind the wheel while impaired.
“The penalties are the same, the outcome is often the same, and if you’re arrested and charged with impaired driving on a snow machine, you lose your licence from driving an automobile as well,” Snyder said on Wednesday, announcing the blitz from the parking lot of the Neebing Roadhouse, a popular stopping-off point for snowmobilers looking for a quick bite to eat.
“We want to make sure that if people are out there enjoying the weather, enjoying the snow that we have on their sleds, that we make sure that they drink responsibly and don’t drink and drive, which is what it basically comes down to.”
Ontario last year introduced tough new impaired driving legislation that applies to anyone driving any motorized vehicle in the province. Drivers are not allowed to drive with a blood-alcohol concentration of more than 0.08, and drivers between 0.05 and 0.08 also face penalties for being in the warn range. Legal cannabis adds another concern to the mix.
A warning carries a mandatory three-day licence suspension and a $250 fine. Being convicted of being over the legal limit includes a 90-day suspension, a seven-day vehicle impoundment, a $550 fine and a $275 reinstatement fee.
Young drivers face additional penalties.
Snyder said unfortunately, drinking and driving remains a problem.
“It’s something we’re addressing and attempting to reduce. Unfortunately in Thunder Bay in the last several years we have seen some serious and fatal collisions involving snowmobiles,” Snyder said. “It’s something we want to prevent and something we want to make sure we do everything possible to ensure that people are safe out there.”
Thunder Bay Police have a pair of snowmobiles in their enforcement complement and Snyder said officers will also be looking for aggressive drivers, for riders to cross streets legally, at 90-degree angles and not speeding within city limits.
“A majority of built-up Thunder Bay, you’re prohibited from snowmobiling,” he said. “There are certain areas, such as where we are out on Highway 61, where you are allowed to drive snowmobiles within city limits.
“However there are specific rules that you must follow. Some of those are very important, especially when crossing roadways.”
