Hamilton man charged with impaired in northern Ontario traffic stop

A glass of liquor with ice, car keys and police handcuffs are shown in this stock photo illustrating the concept of impaired driving. (File photo/AlexRaths/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

A 54-year-old Hamilton man is facing impaired driving charges and other charges following a traffic stop late last month in the Municipality of Callander.

Ontario Provincial Police said officers were conducting patrols on June 26 at about 10 p.m. when an automated licence plate recognition system alert indicated that a vehicle’s permit validation had expired.

In response, police said officers conducted a traffic stop on Highway 94.

“While speaking with the driver, officers observed signs consistent with alcohol impairment,” OPP said in a news release on July 8.

As a result of the investigation, the driver was taken into custody and transported to the North Bay OPP detachment for further testing.

Multiple charges laid

The driver has been charged with changing lanes unsafely, driving a motor vehicle without a valid permit, failing to surrender an insurance card and failing to surrender a motor vehicle permit. He also faces three impaired driving offences, including operation with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood and being a novice driver with a BAC above zero.

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

The accused was released and is scheduled to appear in court on July 21.

Part of broader enforcement effort

The charges were among 48 impaired driving offences laid by OPP in the North East Region during a 10-day traffic and marine safety blitz centred around the Canada Day holiday, which ran from June 26 to July 5.

Over the same period, police in the region laid more than 1,000 speeding-related charges.