As impaired driving occurrences continue to increase in the Greater Toronto Area, the OPP said it is taking "its strongest measures yet to detect, investigate and remove impaired drivers from our roads."
As part of its enhanced efforts to deter impaired drivers and make roads safer, OPP officers in Highway Safety Division detachments throughout the GTA are now conducting mandatory alcohol screening as part of every traffic stop, according to a news release.
Impaired driving collisions and charges are up close to 30 per cent when compared to the previous five-year average, police said. In OPP Highway Safety Division GTA jurisdictions, impaired-related collisions mark the highest increases among the OPP’s regions, with the trend continuing into spring.
Motorists should be prepared to provide a breath sample during a traffic stop. Under Canada’s mandatory alcohol screening law, drivers must immediately comply with a police officer’s demand for a breath sample, even in the absence of any suspicion that they have consumed alcohol.
Drivers who do not comply with a breath demand could be charged for failure or refusal to comply under the Criminal Code.
If you suspect that a driver is impaired, do not hesitate to call 911.
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