Police in Almaguin Highlands lay six impaired driving charges in July

OPP crackdown over Civic weekend nets 26 impaired drivers in the region. Authorities urge safety as summer travel continues, noting a rise in impaired charges.

Ontario Provincial Police’s Almaguin Highlands detachment charged six individuals with impaired driving in July – following a series of separate incidents.

Six alleged impaired drivers charged

On July 2 at about 7 p.m., officers responded to a collision on Deer Lake Road in Perry Township, where a 32-year-old Emsdale woman was charged with two impaired driving offences.

Mid-month, on July 15 at approximately 11:30 p.m., police acted on a traffic complaint on Montreal Avenue in South River, leading to the charges for a 43-year-old local man. The motorist was charged with uttering threats, dangerous operation of a vehicle and impaired driving – with a blood alcohol count above 80.

Then, on July 24 at about 10:30 a.m., a 57-year-old man from Windsor was charged following a traffic complaint on Highway 11 in Perry Township. He was also charged with two impaired driving offences.

OPP laid charges in two incidents on July 30 – first at 7 p.m., a 78-year-old Mississauga woman was charged with drug-impaired driving after police found her unconscious behind the wheel on Highway 592. Hours later at 9:30 p.m., a 32-year-old man from Armour was stopped on Highway 11 and charged with alcohol impaired driving – with a blood count above 80.

The final incident took place at about 11:30 p.m. on July 31 during a R.I.D.E. check on Highway 11 in Burk’s Falls, where a 67-year-old Emsdale man was charged with two impaired driving offences.

In addition to charges

All accused also received 90-day driver’s licence suspensions and the vehicles involved were impounded for seven days at the owner’s expense.

All of the motorists are scheduled to appear in court in Sundridge at a later date.

The OPP detachment said officers also issued one three-day suspension for warning-level impairment during July.

The detachment commander, Staff Sgt. Doug Vincer emphasized the OPP’s commitment to road safety, stating,

“The OPP remains committed to taking alcohol and drug-impaired drivers off our roads through enforcement,” he said in a news release Friday.

‘Make the call’

Authorities urge the public to report suspected impaired drivers.

“If you suspect that someone is driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, it is important to call 911 to report it,” OPP said in the release.

“No amount of alcohol or drugs in your system is safe when driving,” added Vincer.