Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Increased Focus on Road Safety Nets Disqualified Driver

The new commissioner of the OPP Julian Fantino has set as one of his operational priorities the increased presence of OPP officers conducting traffic enforcement activities. Traffic deaths far out exceed the death by homicide in our province and the OPP is committed to doing everything they can to reduce the carnage on our highways. The motoring public can expect to see more officers actively engaged in traffic enforcement activities. Officers will especially target impaired drivers, aggressive driving actions and failure to wear seatbelt violations. Sault Ste Marie OPP officers have been actively engaged in support of Commissioner Fantion’s directive.

At 3:45 A.m. a speeding vehicle was stopped on Hwy#17 in Laird Township. The driver had been disqualified from driving as a result of convictions for refusing a breath test and impaired driving. Driving while disqualified can result in a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine and a further period of disqualification from driving. Charged with Drive while disqualified, operate a motor vehicle with open liquor and speeding is Mark Sabourin age 45 of Sault Ste Marie. The vehicle operated by Mr. Sabourin was also impounded for a period of 45 days under the Vehicle Impoundment Program.

Radar Detector Seized

It is illegal to possess and or operated a radar detector in a motor vehicle in Ontario as an Alberta man found out yesterday. At 4: 21 p.m. a vehicle on hwy#17 in Aweres twp. drove past a police vehicle equipped with a radar detector-warning device. Charged with operating a vehicle with a radar-warning device is Andrew Bichale of Red Deer Alberta. The fine for this offence is $170.00

RIDE Efforts

Sault Ste Marie Detachment and Regional Traffic and Marine officers conducted RIDE in 5 different locations yesterday. A total of 274 vehicles were checked and no drinking drivers were found. Conducting RIDE will be an ongoing effort throughout the year in the OPP’s efforts to reduce the carnage on our highways due to impaired drivers.