North East Region OPP report more than 1,800 charges in 10-day Canada Day enforcement blitz

East Region OPP Canada Day blitz nets more than 1,800 charges in 10 days—over half for speeding, plus 48 impaired drivers. Eric Taschner reports.

Ontario Provincial Police are expressing disappointment and frustration following the release of enforcement statistics from a 10-day traffic and marine safety campaign conducted across the North East Region through the Canada Day weekend.

Between June 26 and July 5, officers issued more than 1,800 charges, with speeding violations accounting for more than half of all infractions.

“With any of our enforcement long day weekends, we do focus on the big four: speeding, cell phone use, seatbelt use, and impaired driving,” said OPP Const. Kyler Brouwer speaking with CTV News on Tuesday.

Numbers reveal persistent dangerous behaviours

The charges laid in the region during the campaign include:

• 1,087 speeding charges
• 48 impaired driving charges
• 19 stunt racing charges
• 11 distracted driving charges
• 42 seatbelt charges
• 7 helmet charges
• 8 life jacket (PFD) charges
• 1 marine safety equipment charge

Brouwer urged motorists and boaters to consider alternatives before getting behind the wheel or operating a watercraft.

“We urge people to go for the alternatives, whether public transport, taxi or make some kind of alternate plan,” the constable said.

MADD Canada voices concern over preventable offences

Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada echoed Brouwer’s dismay over the number of impaired driving charges laid during the enforcement period.

Though, MADD Canada CEO Steve Sullivan said it is “encouraging” that police are being proactive in catching impaired drivers, even if the numbers remain troubling.

“Each one of these cases could be a tragedy involving a death or injury,” Sullivan said.

Continued enforcement through summer

OPP told CTV News that the statistics reflect the ongoing need for proactive enforcement on roads, trails and waterways across the region.

“These dangerous behaviours are still happening in our communities in the North East Region,” Brouwer added.

“So, what we’re looking to do is through enforcement and through public education and visibility, is try to reduce those dangerous behaviours.”

Police and MADD Canada jointly urged drivers and boaters to prioritize safety whether on roadways or lakes.

“We also know in the summer months, there is a higher rate of impaired driving and our summers are pretty short and so people want to enjoy them,” Sullivan said.

“We don’t get a lot of time to celebrate, and we should. We just need to make sure we do it safely.”

OPP plan to maintain their presence throughout the remainder of the summer season, with increased enforcement anticipated leading up to the Civic Day long weekend and beyond.

Provincewide numbers

Across Ontario during the same period, the OPP reported laying more than 19,000 traffic and marine charges, including:

• 8,603 speeding charges
• 1,454 seatbelt charges
• 412 impaired driving charges
• 311 stunt driving charges
• 243 distracted driving charges
• 49 helmet charges
• 11 marine safety equipment charges