Ontario Provincial Police say more than 100 impaired drivers have been taken off eastern Ontario roads since the launch of the annual Festive RIDE campaign.
OPP East Region officers report they have arrested and charged 101 people with impaired driving since the initiative began Nov. 20, including 34 in the past week. Police say nearly 1,100 RIDE checkpoints have been conducted across the region.
All drivers charged with impaired operation had their licences suspended for 90 days, and their vehicles impounded for seven days. Each is also scheduled to appear in court.
Police have also issued 20 three-day licence suspensions to drivers who registered a “warn” reading on a roadside alcohol screening device, an increase of five compared to the previous week.
The Festive RIDE campaign runs until Jan. 1, 2026. Officers are conducting checks across eastern Ontario, from Quinte West to the Quebec boundary and northwest through the Ottawa Valley, targeting drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs.
OPP officers say RIDE programs can take place at any time of day, seven days a week, and may be set up on highways, rural roads or city streets.
Police are reminding the public that while officers are conducting widespread enforcement, they cannot be everywhere. Anyone who suspects a driver is impaired is urged to call 911.
The Festive RIDE campaign is held annually during the holiday season; a period police say is historically associated with an increased risk of impaired driving-related collisions.
(Steve Berard)
