VIDEO: 17 drivers charged with impaired in the last week

NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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Over the past week, 17 impaired drivers were removed from York Region roads including yet another driver found asleep behind the wheel.

On Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, shortly after 11:30 p.m., police were called to Pine Valley Crescent, which is in the area of Weston Road and Langstaff Road in the City of Vaughan, for a report of a vehicle off the roadway and the driver asleep.

York Region Paramedic Services were on scene when police arrived and located a male driver asleep at the wheel of his vehicle, which was still running and in drive.

With the assistance of Vaughan Fire and Rescue Services, entry was gained into the vehicle and the driver was awoken. After smelling a strong odour of alcohol, the driver was placed under arrest and transported to #4 District for a breath test, where he blew more than twice the legal limit for alcohol.

“Not only is this completely irresponsible, the emergency resources required to respond to these calls are tied up, when they could be needed for a true emergency,” said Chief Eric Jolliffe. “People continuing to make the poor decision to drive while impaired are putting lives at risk.”

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

So far in 2019, these reports have helped to safely remove impaired drivers from our roads which has led to more than 200 impaired-related criminal charges being laid.

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.

We are reminding drivers that York Regional Police conducts RIDE spot checks year-round and that our officers are always watching for suspected impaired drivers. We also continue to encourage citizens to call 9-1-1 if you spot a suspected impaired driver.

The following is a list of drivers charged with impaired-related offences in the last week:

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