A total of 25 drivers had their licences taken away from them during a three-day EPS Holiday Checkstop campaign held last weekend.
Members of the public also had a significant impact on keeping impaired drivers off city streets as part of the Curb the Danger program, which encourages citizens to contact police immediately if they spot someone driving erratically. A total of 111 tips came in to police resulting in another 13 impaired charges being laid.
The following are YTD and Holiday Checkstop numbers, as compared with 2013 figures.
Checkstop Results - Total Year to Date | |||
Period | Operations | Impaired Arrests | Roadside Suspensions |
2013 YTD | 31 | 183 | 192 |
2014 YTD | 29 | 160 | 240 |
Change | -6.5% | -12.6% | 25.0% |
Checkstop Results - Holiday Campaign Only | |||
Period | Operations | Impaired Arrests | Roadside Suspensions |
2013 YTD | 12 | 66 | 68 |
2014 YTD | 11 | 69 | 83 |
Change | -8.3% | 4.5% | 22.1% |
The EPS Traffic Section officially launched its Holiday Checkstop initiative back on Dec. 4, 2014, and will continue to intensify its efforts to keep impaired drivers off city streets throughout the remainder of December and into the New Year. The EPS encourages citizens to take a cab – and not a life – if you consume alcohol throughout the holidays, or anytime, for that matter.
The Checkstop program involves vehicle-stop locations 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 - police mobile enforcement near entertainment areas) and Curb the Danger (citizens reporting impaired drivers by calling 911), and helps to make city streets safer for all citizens.
If you suspect a driver is impaired, please contact police as soon as possible 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/traffic