“This is a marked increase over our 2017 holiday Checkstop numbers,” says EPS Sgt. Rob Davis, noting that 42 motorists were arrested and charged with impaired driving last year during the holidays.
“Undoubtedly, this is in part due to an increased number of officer-citizen contacts made throughout this year’s holiday Checkstop campaign. Regardless, it continues illustrate that we still have a lot of work to do collectively as a society.”
That trend continued throughout 2018 where 149 citizens were arrested and charged with impaired driving, an increase of more than 17% over 2017, when 127 motorists were arrested and charged with impaired driving.
Checkstop/TADD Summary of Results: December 2017 and 2018 | ||
Category | Dec 2017 | Dec 2018 |
Number of Checkstop / TADD Operations | 13 | 14 |
Total Vehicles Checked | 3530 | 4812 |
Impaired Driving Arrests | 42 | 59 |
Roadside Suspensions Issued | 72 | 90 |
The Edmonton Police Service coordinates Checkstop campaigns throughout the year, including a number of events across the city over the holiday season.
The EPS Checkstop program involves static lines and roving patrols across the city looking for impaired drivers. While it is aimed at detecting impaired drivers and removing them from the road, a large component is also aimed at educating the public of the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving.
The Checkstop campaign enhances other EPS impaired driving enforcement efforts such as Target All Drunk Drivers (TADD, which involves mobile enforcement near entertainment areas), as well as Curb the Danger (citizens reporting impaired drivers by calling 911), and helps to make Edmonton’s streets safer for all citizens.
The highest breath sample given during the 2018 New Year’s Eve Checkstop was 150mg%. The 21-year-old male driver was consequently arrested for impaired driving. Additionally during December, Checkstop membersalso handed out a total of 57 Graduated Licence Suspensions this holiday season, an increase of 17 over the number of GL Suspensions handed out in 2017 (40). Two Drug Recognition Expert Evaluations (DRE) were also completed.
Comparative Checkstop/TADD results for 2017 and 2018 are included below, as are Curb the Danger results for December 2018 and the entire year.
Summary of Checkstop/TADD Results, Full Year 2017 and 2018 | |||
Category | 2017 | 2018 | Change |
Number of operations | 34 | 35 | + 2.9% |
Vehicles Checked | 9844 | 10728 | + 9.0% |
Impaired Arrests | 127 | 149 | + 17.3% |
Roadside Suspensions | 188 | 193 | + 2.7% |
The EPS Curb the Danger program continues to play a vital role in locating impaired drivers on city streets throughout Edmonton. Thanks to public awareness and concern, a total of 8,937 911 calls were received regarding potential impaired drivers, 820 during the month of December alone this year.
As a direct result of those 911 calls, EPS officers made 630 impaired driving arrests, imposed 292 roadside suspensions and sent warning letters to registered owners of 484 vehicles suspected of impaired driving.
Curb the Danger Results Summary: Dec 2018 and 2018 Total | ||||
Time Period | CTD Calls | Impaired Arrests | Roadside Suspensions | Letters Sent to Registered Owners |
December 2018 | 820 | 55 | 20 | 18 |
2018 Total | 8 937 | 630 | 292 | 484 |
If you suspect a driver is impaired, please contact police to Curb the Danger:
Call 911 if it is safe to do so. Calling 911 in an emergency, or to report an impaired driver, is permitted while driving under the distracted driving law.
Report the location, vehicle description, and licence plate number.
Keep the vehicle in sight, but do not attempt to chase the vehicle or break the law to do so.
For more information on EPS traffic safety and enforcement initiatives, please visit www.edmontonpolice.ca.