These are the stories that created change that resonated far and wide within our community in the last four months of 2018. The issues and challenges raised will continue to have impact in the year ahead.
Frustrated and fed up with what appears to be a flagrant disregard of drug and alcohol-impaired driving laws, York Regional Police announced Nov. 30 it would begin the so-called naming-and-shaming tactic of publishing the name, age and hometown of all those charged with impaired-related criminal driving offences.
“It’s clear that something has to change,” York Regional Police Chief Eric Jolliffe said at the time. “Innocent lives are put at risk every day by this irresponsible and criminal behaviour. We are not giving up.”
While it appears the public overwhelmingly supports the local force’s decision — you can read your comments on our Facebook page — there is scant research to show publishing the names of those charged actually works as a deterrent.
York police, however, remain undeterred in its crackdown on what it considers to be a major crime.
Since Dec. 18, officers have an additional powerful tool to nab more impaired drivers on York Region roadways with controversial, strengthened Criminal Code transportation offences reforms that, among other things, allow them to conduct mandatory roadside screening during every lawful vehicle stop, regardless of whether or not there is a suspicion of impairment.
So far this year, seven people have died in collisions where alcohol or drug impairment were contributing factors, York police said. The force has also laid more than 1,600 charges for impaired-related driving offences so far in 2018.
Just before the Christmas break on Friday, Dec. 21, York police said that at about 11:25 p.m., a suspected impaired driver was involved in three separate collisions in Richmond Hill. A woman who was eight months pregnant was treated for non-life threatening injuries in the third accident. In all, 21 drivers faced a variety of impaired charges that week.
On Christmas Day, York police sent out a message on its Twitter account: “REMINDER - Enjoy the Celebrations - just have a plan for a ride home or stay put. Our officers are out & about. Our accommodations are not that nice - Trip Advisor rates us a 1/2 star.”
One thing’s for certain, along with increased enforcement and tough new penalties, York police will continue to regard impaired driving as a serious crime in progress. The public is encouraged to report suspect drug or alcohol-impaired drivers by calling 9-1-1.
