Release:
In August, citizens and HRM Partners in Policing joined forces to
continue the fight against drinking and driving.
Throughout August, police charged 67 people – 56 men and 11 women,
ranging in age from 20 to 69 – with impaired driving. Of these
incidents, 32 were identified by police during their patrols, four were
identified after a collision had occurred and 31 (46 per cent) were
called-in by concerned citizens. Three additional incidents involved
officers obtaining a blood sample and those matters are still under
investigation. In the cases where a breath sample was obtained, the
blood alcohol readings ranged from 90 to 370 milligrams of alcohol in
100 millilitres of blood (mg%). Officers also issued an additional ten,
seven-day suspensions to people having a blood alcohol level between
50-80 mg%.
Of the 67 cases where people were charged, two of the incidents
involved impairment by drugs and seven resulted in people being charged
with refusal. A charge of refusal, if found guilty, carries with it the
same penalty as if a person has a blood alcohol concentration of more
than the legal limit.
Driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs puts everyone
in danger. In December 2009, MADD Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia
launched Campaign 911 which encourages people to call police with
information on suspected impaired drivers. HRM Partners in Policing
continue to be encouraged by the number of citizens helping to play a
role in community safety. If you have information on a drunk driver,
please call 911.