RCMP Spokesperson Gord Molendyk
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
December 04, 2013 - 11:21 AM
RCMP STEP UP ENFORCEMENT WITH ROAD CHECK BLITZ
VERNON - It’s another year of Christmas parties, hot toddies and hazardous winter roads. For the RCMP, it’s time to launch a counter-attack.
They don’t want to dampen the fun, but they do want you to get home safely.
“Impaired driving is an entirely preventable cause of death and injuries that has immense cost and devastating effects in our community,” RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says.
The North Okanagan RCMP will be kicking off the holiday season with an impaired driving road check blitz this weekend. They’ll be looking for drunk, stoned and prescription drug induced drivers.
“Driving after using drugs or prescription drugs is just as dangerous as drinking and driving,” Molendyk says, noting suspensions and charges around prescription drugs and driving have been on the rise, several files of which are currently before the courts.
"Drug recognition experts—we have a couple in our area—can determine if you're under the influence of a drug and you can be charged with drug-impaired driving.”
Molendyk says the RCMP will be conducting road checks throughout the North Okanagan, at all times of the day. If you’re going to a party, or drinks with some friends, organize a safe ride home.
“We can’t reiterate enough the effects of impaired driving in our community,” Molendyk says.
“The consequences of impaired driving are massive: you’re risking your life and the lives of others. You can be charged criminally and the ripple effects to you and your family can be huge.”
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca, call (250)309-5230 or tweet @charhelston.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013