Thunder Bay’s Festive R.I.D.E. campaign sees 50-50 split between drug and alcohol-related charges

The Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) has laid at least 31 impaired driving charges since December 19, more or less evenly split between drug and alcohol impairment.

The efforts of the TBPS traffic unit are part of the province’s Festive R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign, which involves police making an increased effort to make traffic stops to enforce impaired driving laws over the winter season.

TBPS Traffic Unit Sergeant Justin Dubuc says this year’s rates for R.I.D.E. impaired driving charges are similar to last year’s numbers.

As part of the campaign, TBPS officers are setting up at four-way stops throughout the city to inform drivers about the campaign and to notify them of the province’s updated penalties for driving under the influence.

Dubuc finds impaired driving rates disappointing: “It’s always alarming when we’re seeing these kinds of numbers with the public. It just doesn’t seem to be subsiding at all,” he says.

But the Traffic Unit sergeant does believe the R.I.D.E. campaign, which places police officers out in the streets to make traffic stops, discourages driving under the influence.

“When people see us out here, stopping cars randomly at various intersections, for sure it’s a big deterrent,” he says.