Provincial police in the west region nabbed more impaired drivers through their Festive RIDE campaign last month than during the same initiative in 2018.
Officers set up a total of 1,461 check-points over a nearly six week period that began in late November and wrapped up on Thursday.
In total, 156 drivers were charged with impaired driving, driving over 80 mg of alcohol per 100 mL of blood, or refusal to provide a breath sample. Another 93 drivers were deemed to be in the warning range and issued three, seven, or 30-day licence suspensions.
The number of motorists stopped behind the wheel while impaired by drugs or alcohol is higher than the 136 drivers charged during the 2018 holiday RIDE campaign.
"This year's campaign may be over, but OPP West Region members will continue their efforts to educate the public and enforce Ontario's impaired driving laws," the OPP said in a statement issued Friday. "Ontario citizens are reminded to do their part during the campaign by never driving after consuming alcohol or drugs and never letting anyone else drive if you know or suspect that they have consumed alcohol or drugs."
Police advise anyone who knows of or suspects a driver is impaired either by alcohol or drugs to call 911.
