BC Highway Patrol pulled out all the stops to take 36 impaired drivers off East Kootenay roadways through December.
Police used mandatory alcohol screening, tactical check stops and targeted patrols during their Winter Impaired Driving Campaign.
Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol says the holiday season is a particularly bad time of year in terms of impaired driving.
“There are two times of the year that are extra busy for BC Highway Patrol. The absolute busiest is in the peak of summer when we see a lot of impaired driving from late June to August,” said McLaughlin.
“The second busiest time is December, so that’s why we were out doing enforcement with our Winter Impaired Driving Campaign.”
Combined with snow and ice, winter adds an extra layer of risk for driving while impaired.
“We already have a problem with people who drive too quickly or don’t wear their seatbelts, but when you add in impairment it becomes a very lethal combination,” said McLaughlin.
“On these icy highways in the winter, we especially don’t want people out there driving impaired.”
This December has BC Highway Patrol collaborating with several detachments around the region.
“We screened almost 1,000 drivers in the East Kootenays over the month of December,” said McLaughlin.
“We worked with RCMP officers from Columbia Valley, Elk Valley and Creston and the public was really supportive. They even brought us snacks.”
On December 21, officers held several strategic, roving check stops aimed at snaring drivers trying to avoid police.
Police say four impaired drivers were taken off the road and one member of the public circled back with holiday treats for officers.
On December 30, a check stop near Panorama Ski Resort found that skiers and snowboarders were driving safe and sober as none of the 120 drivers stopped were impaired.
The following day near Cranbrook, officers issued two 90-day suspensions, stopped one prohibited driver, one unlicenced driver, and one vehicle without insurance.
December also had officers using some new equipment in the field.
“This was also the first Winter Impaired Driving Campaign where BC Highway Patrol officers used Body Worn Cameras,” said McLaughlin.
“Our officers feel optimistic about how Body Worn Cameras will provide evidence for impaired driving investigations.”
BC Highway Patrol’s total for the 2024 Winter Impaired Driving Campaign included:
- 1 x Impaired Driving (Criminal Code)
- 12 x 90 day IRP alcohol
- 16 x 3 day IRP alcohol
- 6 x 24 hour prohibition of alcohol
- 1 x 12 hour prohibition of alcohol
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