An 83-year-old man has been charged with impaired driving-related offences after police in Sault Ste. Marie say they received reports of an “erratic driver” on Queen Street East over the weekend. Police said officers were dispatched to the area around 4 p.m. on Aug. 23 following a report to 911 operators about a vehicle being driven erratically. According to officers, when police arrived, they located the vehicle parked near Drake Street with the driver asleep inside. “Upon speaking with the driver, who was identified as the accused, officers developed grounds to believe their ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol,” the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service said in a news release Tuesday. The man was taken into custody. “Officers made a lawful demand for a breath sample; however, the accused refused to provide one,” police said. Charges and penalties As a result, the accused was charged with impaired driving, refusal to comply with a demand and dangerous operation of a vehicle. In addition to the charges, under provincial law, the motorist also received a 90-day driver’s licence suspension and the vehicle was impounded for one week. The accused was released on an appearance notice and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 5.
