Week one of the 2019 RCMP Holiday Checkstop Program, from December 1-8, 2019, has resulted in over 3700 vehicles checked across Manitoba during 99 checkstops.
Results from both Checkstops and regular patrol include:
- 26 people charged with a Criminal Code Impaired Driving offence (21 alcohol, 5 refusals)
- The highest blood/alcohol reading reported was 0.23
- 15 alcohol or drug-related tiered administrative roadside suspensions
- 141 traffic related provincial statue (Highway Traffic Act) charges laid and 34 written warnings issued
With the introduction of immediate roadside prohibition to take effect on December, 16, 2019, police across Manitoba will soon have a new and powerful tool against impaired driving.
“The Checkstop program saves lives, by effectively identifying and removing impaired drivers off our roads,” said Justice Minister Cliff Cullen. “To help support police and create stronger consequences to deter impaired driving, our government has implemented immediate roadside prohibition. This new approach will allow officers to get drunk drivers off our roads in a matter of minutes and head back out on patrol more quickly.”
The Checkstop program runs from Sunday, December 1, 2019, and continues until January 1, 2020. Every Manitoba RCMP detachment and traffic services unit is expected to participate in the Checkstop program with the goal of removing impaired and high-risk drivers from Manitoba roads.
