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Driver accused of having five times legal limit after crashing into house Christmas Eve

22 drivers charged with impaired over the holidays
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NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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Over the holidays, a total of 22 impaired drivers were removed from York Region roads from Dec. 24, 2018 to Jan. 1, 2019.

In all of 2018, York Regional Police laid approximately 1,650 charges for impaired-related driving offences and the number of drivers choosing to drive while impaired is showing no signs of decreasing. Sadly, seven people have lost their lives this year in collisions where alcohol or drug impairment were contributing factors.

In one incident at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve, a citizen called to report that a vehicle had just pulled into his driveway and crashed into the house. When officers arrived they located a black Infinity which had collided with the corner of the home. The driver appeared to be sleeping in the vehicle with it still running. The driver was arrested and was taken to #4 District where he provided a breath sample reading more than five times the legal limit. The driver was taken to the hospital as a blood alcohol reading more than .300 is considered a potential medical emergency. The driver was released from hospital and has been charged.

Charged:
    •    Artem Kulikov, 29 of the City of Vaughan

Charges:
    •    Impaired operation
    •    80 plus

On Dec. 31, 2018 shortly after midnight, officers responded to Main Street in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville after a concerned citizen reported a possible impaired driver. The suspect pulled into a parking lot at a location on Hoover Park Drive and was stopped by officers. Officers learned that the suspect was an on duty Uber driver who had attended the location to pick someone up. The driver was arrested and was charged.

Charged:
    •    Dennis Romanin, 55 of the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville

Charges:
    •    Impaired operation
    •    80 plus

A list of all the drivers charged with impaired-related criminal driving offences from Dec. 24, 2018, to Jan. 1, 2019, is available for viewing at the following link.

The legal consequences of an impaired driving charge can include roadside vehicle impoundment and automatic driver’s licence suspension, as well as further consequences imposed by the courts, including longer licence suspensions, large fines and in some cases, jail time.

York Regional Police thanks members of the community for helping us stop and arrest impaired drivers by calling 9-1-1 through the Safe Roads...Your Call program. We consider these incidents a life-threatening crime in progress and will continue to respond to these calls.

We’re not giving up.

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