Partners in Policing release impaired driving statistics for January

Halifax District RCMP and Halifax Regional Police – Partners in Policing – charged 67 drivers with impaired related offences during the month of January. Of the 67 drivers, 46 were charged with Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle by Alcohol, 3 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 49 impaired drivers apprehended, 37 were male, 12 were female and ages ranged from 18-77. Of the 18 drivers suspended, 15 were male, 3 were female and ages ranged from 16-52.

Throughout the month, police received 32 calls from the public through 911 about suspected impaired drivers. Of all impaired drivers charged, 20 were a direct result of calls from the public.

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

Checkpoints​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2

Traffic stops​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 17

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Suspended drivers identified via:​ ​ ​ ​

Checkpoints​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 1

Traffic stops​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 12

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Breath sample provided:​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Of the 46 drivers who provided breath samples, officers were able to detect and charge at a wide range of blood alcohol content from 90-320 mg %.​

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

Refuse breath demand​ ​ 3

Blood sample obtained​ ​ 4

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

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Source : Media Release