Impaired driving charges laid after late-night northern Ont. traffic stop

An undated photo of the exterior a James Bay Ontario Provincial Police detachment building on a snowy day. (File photo/Ontario Provincial Police/Facebook)

A 28-year-old man from Attawapiskat faces multiple charges, including impaired driving, following a traffic stop by Ontario Provincial Police in Moosonee late last month.

OPP said that the incident occurred at about 12:15 a.m. on Jan. 31 when officers stopped a vehicle on First Street that was observed to have no licence plates and a non-functioning rear light.

“Officers spoke to the driver and determined that they had been consuming alcohol,” police said in a news release.

The driver was taken into custody and transported to the Moosonee OPP detachment for further testing.

As a result of the investigation, police charged the motorist with driving a motor vehicle with no plates, driving a motor vehicle with no permit, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, driving without proper rear lights, driving a motor vehicle with an open container of liquor along with two impaired driving offences – having a blood alcohol concentration of more than 80 and novice driver with a BAC above zero.

In addition to the charges, the man also received a 90-day driver’s licence suspension and under provincial law the vehicle involved was impounded for a minimum of 14 days.

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on March 3.

Police reiterate dangers of impaired driving

OPP officials used the incident to reiterate the dangers of impaired driving.

“Impaired driving continues to pose a serious risk on Ontario roadways,” said police.

“If you suspect that someone is driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, call 911 immediately.”

“Drive sober,” added OPP Const. Kyler Brouwer in a social media post outlining the incident.