Call from concerned citizen leads to impaired charges on Hwy. 17

An Ontario Provincial Police image illustrating impaired operation charges. (File photo/Ontario Provincial Police/Facebook)

Ontario Provincial Police has charged a Sudbury man with impaired driving after a concerned citizen reported a possible impaired driver on a northern Ontario highway last weekend.

OPP responded to a call from “a concerned citizen” about a possible impaired driver on Highway 17 in Greater Sudbury at about 9:40 p.m. on Sunday.

“The vehicle was travelling at various speeds and swerving towards the ditch,” said police in a news release.

Officers located the vehicle, took the driver into custody and transported him to the Nipissing West detachment for further testing.

As a result of the investigation, the 38-year-old local man was charged with two impaired driving offences – including having a blood alcohol concentration of more than 80.

In addition to the charges, the motorist also received a 90-day driver’s licence suspension and the vehicle involved was impounded for seven days.

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 22.

‘Make the call’

“OPP would like to remind the public that if you see a possible impaired driver on our roadways, waterways, or trails, please ‘make the call,’ and dial 911 as impaired driving never ends well,” said police.

“Please plan a way to get home safely.”