During the month of October, Halifax District RCMP issued 466 summary offence tickets to motorists:

• Speeding – 61 drivers received tickets for driving over the speed limit.
• Cell phone use – 9 drivers received tickets for using their cell phone while driving.
• Seatbelts – 2 drivers or passengers received tickets for not wearing their seatbelt.
• Unlicensed/suspended and revoked drivers – 37 drivers were charged for driving without a valid driver’s license.
• Other Motor Vehicle Act charges – 201 drivers were charged with numerous offences under the Motor Vehicle Act.
• Aggressive driving – 138 drivers received a ticket for these offences which include following too closely, fail to yield to pedestrian, careless driving and failing to move over, racing, passing school bus exhibiting flashing red lights, and traffic signs.
• Other Provincial Statute charges – 18 drivers or passengers received a ticket for these offences.

“Drivers need to pay more attention to what is in front of them and not what’s on their cellular device,” says Cst. Serge Landry, Halifax District RCMP. “Staring down and not in front of you, will ultimately result in your being involved in a collision.”

Partners in Policing release impaired driving statistics for October

Halifax District RCMP officers continue to educate motorists on the Motor Vehicle Act while conducting enforcement initiatives and ask that people be accountable for their actions while driving.

Halifax District RCMP and Halifax Regional Police – Partners in Policing – charged 75 drivers with impaired related offences during the month of October. Of the 75 drivers, 55 were charged with Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle by Alcohol, 2 were charged with Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle by Drug and 18 were issued driving suspensions for operating a motor vehicle while having consumed alcohol.

Of the 55 impaired drivers apprehended, 46 were male, 9 were female and ages ranged from 18-77. Of the 18 drivers suspended, 14 were male, 4 were female and ages ranged from 18-77.

Throughout the month, police received 35 calls from the public through 911 about suspected impaired drivers. Of all impaired drivers charged, 22 were a direct result of calls from the public.

Impaired drivers identified via:

Checkpoints 1
Traffic stops 26

Suspended drivers identified via:

Checkpoints 6
Traffic stops 5

Breath sample provided:

Of the 42 drivers who provided breath samples, officers were able to detect and charge at a wide range of blood alcohol content from 90-210 mg %.

Of those who did not provide a breath sample: 

Refuse breath demand 12
Blood sample obtained 1

Drug Recognition Expert required 2

Your Partners in Policing thank citizens for calling in suspected impaired drivers throughout the month. We encourage citizens to always call 911 immediately if you suspect someone is driving impaired. Here are some signs of an impaired driver:

• Driving unreasonably fast, slow or at an inconsistent speed

• Drifting in and out of lanes

• Tailgating and changing lanes frequently

• Making exceptionally wide turns

• Changing lanes or passing without sufficient clearance

• Overshooting or stopping well before stop signs or stop lights

• Disregarding signals and lights

• Approaching signals or leaving intersections too quickly or slowly

• Driving without headlights, failing to lower high beams or leaving turn signals on

• Driving with windows open in cold or inclement weather

Here’s what you should do if you observe a potential impaired driver:

· Call 911, state your location and provide:

o A description of the vehicle, including the license plate number, color, make and model

o The direction of travel for the vehicle

o A description of the driver

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Source: Media Release