Traffic complaints lead to impaired driving charges in northern Ont.

Impaired driving reports on the rise in Timmins Timmins Police say impaired driving charges are higher this year compared to last year at the same time. Lydia Chubak reports.

Traffic complaints led members of the James Bay Detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to arrest and charge two individuals with impaired driving last week.

On March 23 just before 4 p.m., officers responded to a complaint from a local business.

“Police located and stopped the vehicle driving on Railway Street in Cochrane,” OPP said in a news release Friday.

“The investigation revealed the driver had consumed alcoholic beverages.”

Officers arrested the driver for impaired driving and took them to the Cochrane OPP station for further testing.

As a result of the investigation, the 48-year-old driver from Cochrane was charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired, operation while impaired – a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 80 plus and being a novice driver with a BAC above zero.

They were also issued a 90-day administrative driver's licence suspension and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.

The accused was released and is scheduled to appear in court on May 2.

Then on March 25 shortly before noon, officers responded to a traffic complaint from a driver advising a possible impaired driver was operating both a snowmobile and pick-up truck in an area off Highway 631 about 45km north of Hornepayne, Ont.

“Police located the vehicles and driver on East McEwing Road, just off Highway 631,” OPP said in a news release Sunday.

According to police, the investigation determined the driver had recently consumed alcohol.

“The driver was arrested for impaired driving and transported to the Hearst OPP for further testing,” said police.

As a result, the 24-year-old driver from Hearst was also charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired and operation while impaired – a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 80 plus. This driver also had a 90-day administrative driver's licence suspension issued and police impounded both vehicles for seven days.

The accused was released and is scheduled to appear in court on May 18 in Hornepayne.

None of the accusations has been proven in court.

Anyone who sees a suspected impaired driver can call 911 or contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.