Check Stop season has arrived

By Lethbridge Herald on December 7, 2024.

Lethbridge Police Service officers talk to motorists at a 2023 Check Stop. Herald file photo by Al Beeber

Al Beeber – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – abeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Ho, ho, ho, could turn into oh no, no for Lethbridge drivers who get behind the wheel after indulging in liquid spirits as they get into the Christmas spirit.

Lethbridge Police Services say they will be targeting impaired drivers during their annual Christmas Check Stop campaign.

LPS, in partnership with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, is reminding motorists to drive sober this holiday season so a night out doesn’t become a lifetime of regret.

Santa, after all, isn’t the only one who knows whether people have been naughty or nice as drivers can expect to find out during Check Stops which will be held throughout this month and into the New Year as part of a targeted effort to apprehend impaired drivers.

Sergeant Danny Lomness of the LPS Traffic Response Unit said Friday that drivers in the city aren’t getting the message to stay off the road when they’ve been consuming intoxicants.

The number of impaired driving charges laid here in the last three years has consistently stayed in the range of 250-280 annually which Lomness attributes to drivers being selfish and not thinking about the ramifications of their actions.

“We’re still seeing similar numbers to years prior or even a little bit above,” said Lomness.

“They just don’t want to have to pay for a taxi or wait for a taxi or a Uber or whatever it may be. Or just not planning ahead or think they’re fine when they’re not fine,” said Lomness as possible reasons for the impaired driving numbers.

Lomness also wants people to avoid broadcasting the location of Check Stops after coming across one.

“It’s not what we want, we want to make sure roads are safe” but police know that happens and they employ different tactics to alleviate this problem, the Sergeant added.

Among the safe ride options available to people is the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns Athletics program called Luxie Lifts.

The program runs tonight as well as Dec. 13-14 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Three volunteers will show up to a caller’s location and drive them, their guests and their vehicle home.

Impaired drivers pose a significant risk to public safety and the primary goal of the Christmas Check Stop program is to remove them from the road, says LPS. Police will also be checking for valid documentation including driver’s licenses, vehicle registration and insurance as well as equipment, liquor and other violations.

Drivers with a blood alcohol concentration over .08 could face criminal charges and upon conviction, the consequence of a criminal record.

Under the provincial Immediate Roadside Sanction program, if a driver is found to be impaired by drugs or alcohol, an IRS Fail will be issued resulting in a 15-month suspension (with the option of getting an ignition interlock device after the first three months), 30-day vehicle seizure, $1,000 fine and mandatory completion of the Planning Ahead course. With any subsequent offences the penalties increase. In totality the financial impact of a first FAIL offence – including towing, vehicle storage, the fine, getting an interlock device and enrolling in the education program – is approximately $4,000-$5,000. 

Drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of .05 or over are subject to an IRS Warn resulting in an immediate three-day license suspension and vehicle seizure along with a $300 fine. Penalties increase with repeated offences.

There is zero tolerance for drivers with a Graduated Driving License. An offence will result in an immediate 30-day license suspension, seven-day vehicle seizure and $200 fine.

Police can also issue an immediate 24-hour suspension for drivers suspected of being impaired by alcohol, drugs or a physical or medical condition that affects their ability to safely operate a vehicle.

In Canada, police have the authority to request a breath test from any driver who is lawfully stopped. Sober or not, if a driver refuses to provide a breath sample they can be criminally charged.

During holiday celebrations if people are planning to consume alcohol and/or use drugs, they are urged to plan ahead for a safe ride home – designate a sober driver (who does not drink any alcohol), call a taxi or use a rideshare service to get home safely. 

In 2023, during the month of December, Lethbridge police checked approximately 1,250 motorists and issued 16 IRS fails – removing 16 impaired drivers from the road. In addition, police issued seven IRS cautions for drivers with a blood alcohol content of .05 or greater, one IRS novice for zero tolerance with a graduated driver’s license, one refusal to provide a breath sample, two 24-hour suspensions, 83 violation tickets and executed two warrants.

People who observe a suspected impaired driver are asked to call 911. And police also want the community to refrain from sharing the location of any Check Stop on social media because doing so assists impaired drivers avoid detection and puts all road users at risk.