Open alcohol, impaired charges for novice driver in Sault Ste. Marie

An undated photo of a Sault Ste. Marie Police Service officer inside a police vehicle. (File photo/Nathan Pardy/CanadaPolice.ca)

Police in Sault Ste. Marie say a report of erratic driving early Saturday morning led them to a parking lot near Chambers Avenue and Darcy Road, where they found a man behind the wheel of a vehicle.

“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 release Monday.

“Officers also observed an open container of alcohol within reach of the driver’s seat.”

Officers said the driver was transported to the Police Services Building for further testing and multiple breath samples taken registered above the legal limit.

The motorist was charged having control of a motor vehicle with an open container of liquor along with three impaired driving offences – including operation with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) exceeding 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood and having a BAC above zero as a novice driver.

The accused is scheduled to appear in court July 27.