The final week of the RCMP Holiday Checkstop program from December 24, 2018, to January 1, 2019, has resulted in 47 checkstops conducted across Manitoba with approximately 1433 vehicles checked.

Results for the Checkstops include:

  • 24 people charged with Impaired Driving (23 by alcohol, 1 by drug)
  • 5 people charged with Refusing a Breath Demand
  • The highest blood/alcohol reading reported was .310 (just under four times the legal limit)
  • 9 alcohol-related tiered suspensions
  • 9 people charged with improper storage of alcohol or cannabis in a vehicle

There were two traffic-related fatalities that occurred this past week. One occurred on Highway 16 near Gladstone and another in Berens River.

Last year during week four, RCMP members conducted 22 checkstops, and checked 1366 vehicles, resulting in 21 people being charged with a Criminal Code Impaired Driving offence (Impaired, Over .08, Refusal, Impaired by Drug).

Total Program Results

During the month-long RCMP Holiday Checkstop Program, 11,714 vehicles were checked during 262 checkstops. Results for the complete 2018 program include:

  • 90 people charged with Impaired Driving (87 by alcohol, 3 by drug)
  • 15 people charged with Refusing a Breath Demand
  • 30 alcohol-related tiered suspensions issued
  • 2 drug-related tiered suspensions issued
  • 49 people charged with improper storage of alcohol or cannabis in a vehicle

RCMP report that five people lost their lives in traffic-related collisions during this year’s Checkstop program.

Last year during the 2017/2018 program, RCMP checked 8333 vehicles during 176 checkstops. RCMP charged 117 people with a Criminal Code Impaired Driving offence and issued an additional 51 alcohol and drug-related tiered suspensions. There was one traffic-related fatality during last year’s Checkstop program.