Four arrests made after weekend impaired driving crackdown

By Jeremy Appel on December 11, 2018.

jappel@medicinehatnews.com @MHNJeremyAppel

Police made four arrests over the weekend after conducting stepped-up impaired driving enforcement.

Medicine Hat Police Service Traffic Unit and Patrol Section checked more than 1,000 vehicles as part of the Enhanced Alberta Checkstop Program.

A man was charged with impaired driving, exceeding 0.08 Blood Alcohol Content, dangerous driving and evading police after attempting to flee the checkstop in his car. Police pursued and arrested the driver nearby without any harm to the public.

The three others were charged with impaired driving and refusing to provide a breath sample; driving while prohibited; and breach of bail conditions.

Overall, police conducted 12 roadside alcohol screening tests. They issued one three-day licence suspension and vehicle seizure for a driver found to have a BAC between 0.05 and 0.1, and four violation tickets for various traffic offences.

Police also gave 36 warnings for driving and liquor and cannabis act violations, and towed one driver’s vehicle for operating without a licence.

Impaired driving laws are changing Dec. 18, giving police enhanced ability to detect impairment and increasing mandatory minimum sentences for those convicted of impaired driving offences, including a mandatory 90-day licence suspension.

9
-8