THUNDER BAY — Const. Tom Armstrong with the Thunder Bay Police Service said some drivers are still not getting the message when it comes to impaired driving.
The police service laid 32 impaired driving-related charges during its Festive RIDE Program, bringing the 2023 total to 217.
Armstrong said the number of impaired driving charges has been above 200 per year for the last five years.
“We're not seeing a decline, which is disappointing despite all the messaging, education and enforcement – so that's kind of where we're banging our heads against the wall a little bit.”
Over the course of 2023, officers laid 116 alcohol-related charges, 79 drug-impaired charges, and 22 people charged for failing or refusing to comply with a demand.
The seasonal Festive RIDE Program for 2023 found 19 drivers who police believe were impaired by alcohol, eight by drugs, and five drivers charged for failing or refusing to comply with a demand.
Armstrong is concerned that the numbers are not going down.
“I think in 2019, our numbers spiked over 200. We thought it might be a bit of an anomaly, and we've maintained that number – well north of 200 – for the last five years. This is kind of the new normal, and it's a concerning pattern despite all the things we're trying to do to combat it.”
Police will continue to remind drivers that not only is it not safe to drive while impaired, but it’s also against the law.
Armstrong said police will continue with their public awareness campaigns and RIDE programs, and officers will keep performing proactive enforcement day and night.
Armstrong said, unfortunately, some drivers must not realize how severe the consequences could be for impaired driving.
“Now, for 90 days from that moment, you're not driving, you've lost your car, you've lost your driver's license. You're going to have to go through the court process."
“You're going to have a criminal record, the fines, suspensions, the inconvenience of it all – and God forbid you get into a collision like one of the many we've had this year,” he said.
Several people were caught driving while prohibited, who had previous impaired convictions, yet they’re driving while impaired, “which is just mind blowing,” Armstrong said.
“They are clearly not getting the message.”
He offered a stern reminder to find another way home if you’re impaired by alcohol or drugs – to prevent injuries and to keep yourself out of trouble.
“And, you know, you think that you can get home and you get in a crash and you hurt somebody badly or you kill somebody, I mean, man, oh man, the consequences are stepped up to the next level and beyond."
“So that's what people need to be aware of. If you get in a crash and hurt someone or kill someone when you're drunk, you're in a world of trouble,” Armstrong said.
