Busy weekend for RCMP tracking down impaired drivers

RCMP traffic units in the Edmonton-area were busy over the weekend, as the December crackdown on impaired drivers kicked off.

RCMP said on Friday night, the Capital West Integrated Traffic Unit stopped a vehicle that had been travelling at 173 kilometres an hour, eastbound on Highway 16.

Police said the highway was in poor condition at the time.

Officers arrested a Saskatchewan man on the scene and charged him with impaired driving and driving over the legal limit – the driver provided a breath sample on the scene, which RCMP said was at nearly twice the legal limit.

On Friday and Saturday the same traffic unite arrested a total of seven people, they have all been charged with impaired driving and driving over the legal limit.

On Sunday, Leduc RCMP received a tip from the public after 2:30 p.m. that an intoxicated man was driving from Edmonton to Leduc.

Edmonton Police worked with Leduc RCMP to find the man, which was found by Sheriffs and stopped at the Leduc Common commercial complex.

The driver was arrested, and breath samples indicated he was at more than two and a half times the legal limit.

Cory Thompson, 36, of Leduc has been charged with impaired driving and driving over the legal limit.