The North Bay Ontario Provincial Police admit impaired charges are down from last year but those numbers could be deceiving due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"So far this year there have been 53 people arrested by North Bay OPP under the impaired driving laws which includes impaired and refusing to provide a breath sample," explained Constable Shona Camirand with the North Bay OPP.
"At the end of the year we had 70 but we had a couple of months of COVID-19 that people were staying inside their houses. Like one of the months early in COVID-19 we had zero charges which is amazing."
The North Bay OPP, the Anishinabek Police Service and the North Bay City Police officially launched their R.I.D.E. campaign in a battle against impaired driving.
"This is the kickoff to the Festive season so we are out daytime, night time and partnering with our community partners like the OPP, the Anishinabek Police Service and it is the same message we put out every year, just don't be under the influence of alcohol when you are out on the roads," stated Inspector Jeff Warner with the North Bay City Police.
Camirand says police continue to press hard that drinking and driving or driving while impaired by drugs is not acceptable.
"It creates a risk for anyone out there on the highway," she said
"Some people think they got away with it once they will get away with it a second time well that second time may not go so well for everybody so we want people to find a ride. We are in the city, there are taxis, buses and ride share that will go all over from Mattawa to North Bay, Powassan to North Bay so you have no excuse. Stay home if you are going to drink and in the morning take a good check of yourself because if you get up after a night of drinking only two or three hours of sleep may not be enough time to be sober when you are driving in the morning."
The R.I.D.E. program started on November 26 and goes on until January 3.
