Nova Scotia RCMP release monthly provincial impaired statistics for March 2019 / Partners in Policing release impaired driving statistics for March​

Halifax District RCMP and Halifax Regional Police – Partners in Policing – charged 57 drivers with impaired related offences during the month of March. Of the 57 drivers, 44 were charged with Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle by Alcohol, 4 were charged with Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle by Drug and 9 were issued driving suspensions for operating a motor vehicle while having consumed alcohol.

Of the 48 impaired drivers apprehended, 35 were male, 13 were female and ages ranged from 21-68. Of the 9 drivers suspended, 8 were male, 1 were female and ages ranged from 19-64.

Throughout the month, police received 32 calls from the public through 911 about suspected impaired drivers. Of all impaired drivers charged, 24 were a direct result of calls from the public.

Impaired drivers identified via:​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Checkpoints​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 0

Traffic stops​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 20

​

Suspended drivers identified via:​ ​ ​ ​

Checkpoints​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 1

Traffic stops​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 7

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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 90-310 mg %.​

Of those who did not provide a breath sample:​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 

Refuse breath demand​ ​ 2

Blood sample obtained​ ​ 0

Drug Recognition Expert required 5

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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

As Nova Scotia’s Provincial Police, road safety is a top priority.

In an effort to keep citizens informed about enforcement on our roadways, the Nova Scotia RCMP is releasing​ provincial statistics for March 2019 on drivers charged for driving impaired by drugs or alcohol.​

For the month of March 2019, Nova Scotia RCMP charged​ 96 drivers with impaired related offences.

• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​59 charged with Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle by Alcohol
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​8 charged with Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle by Drug
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​3 Charged with Refusal of a Demand Made by a Peace Officer
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​4 drivers complied with a demand for a blood sample due to suspected drug-impaired driving
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​26 issued driving suspensions for Operating a Motor Vehicle While Having Consumed Alcohol.

Impaired driving investigations can be complex, especially when they involve both alcohol and drugs. This is why Nova Scotia RCMP officers receive a variety of training, and have several tools at their disposal. In Nova Scotia, there are​ approximately 250 RCMP members​ with training related to drug-impaired driving, 33 of whom are Drug Recognition Experts (DREs). Nova Scotia RCMP also has 427 trained breath technicians who are qualified to operate instruments that determine a driver’s blood alcohol concentration.​ ​

Failure or refusal to comply with a demand made by a peace officer for a sample for testing sobriety can result in criminal charges that have the same penalties as impaired driving. There are range of fines and periods of driving prohibition for those convicted of driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs.​

Citizens are asked to call​ 911​ immediately if you see a driver who is driving erratically or unsafely. Here are some signs of an impaired driver to watch for:

• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​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

Once you call​ 911, you will be asked to provide the following:

• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Your location
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​A description of the vehicle, including the license plate number, colour, make and model
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​The direction of travel for the vehicle
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​A description of the driver if visible.​

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Source : Media Release