By Curtis Galbraith

RCMP

Holidays coming means more impaired driver check stops

Dec 5, 2020 | 7:00 AM

Alberta RCMP says they will be doing check stops to look for impaired drivers again this holiday season.

Today marks National Impaired Driving Enforcement Day

Constable Mike Hibbs says this will mean a bigger police presence on the roads.

“I know we had a little over 6000 impaired operations (charges) in Alberta last year. This year, with COVID and stuff like that, we’re still seeing the numbers quite high. We want to let people know that we are out there. Of course, with the change for Bill 21, those infractions have become more severe with penalties and seizures and stuff like that.”

He adds that even if there are small celebrations this year, people should still find a safe way home.

“I know there won’t be much Christmas celebration this year because of cutbacks in people gathering and stuff like that. We still want to encourage people to please do not drink and drive, get an alternative way home, or get a designated driver to get you home safely.”

RCMP also say that 30 per cent of all the fatal crashes in Alberta in 2019 involved alcohol or drugs.