Traffic complaint on Highway 11 leads to impaired charges

A blurred image of an Ontario Provincial Police vehicle to simulate impairment released on social media by the James Bay detachment. (Ontario Provincial Police/Facebook)

A 25-year-old Sudbury man is facing impaired driving charges following a public traffic complaint in Cochrane on Thursday night.

Ontario Provincial Police responded to the complaint regarding a suspected impaired driver in a commercial parking lot on Railway Street at about 10:45 p.m. on Nov. 20.

“Police located a vehicle matching the description travelling southbound on Highway 11 South,” OPP said in a news release.

Police said that upon speaking with the driver, an officer determined that alcohol had been consumed. The individual was taken into custody and transported to the Cochrane OPP detachment for further testing.

Charges, penalties levied

As a result of the investigation, the accused has been charged with two impaired driving offences – including having a blood alcohol concentration of more than 80.

In addition to the charges, the man also 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 in Cochrane on Dec. 16.

Police ask public to report impaired drivers

OPP used the incident to issue a reminder to the public about the dangers of impaired driving.

“The James Bay OPP reminds the public that if you suspect that someone is driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, call 911 immediately,” said police.

“In doing so, you may save a life.”