WELLINGTON COUNTY – In the first 10 months of the year, Wellington OPP have laid slightly more impaired driving charges than in 2022.
Statistics released by the OPP West Region show 119 impaired driving charges have been laid from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31 by Wellington OPP, four more than in the same time period last year.
There have also been four impaired driving fatalities noted by Wellington OPP so far in 2023, one more than in 2022.
OPP West Region has released these statistics ahead of launching its Festive RIDE campaign, an initiative aimed at taking impaired drivers off Ontario roads during the holiday season, starting Nov. 16 until the end of the year.
“Drivers can expect a heightened OPP presence on West Region roads and highways, in addition to the highly visible and dedicated efforts made by our municipal and First Nations policing partners, as officers conduct RIDE checks 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the province,” a media release from OPP West Region said.
The media release said OPP West Region has seen a rise in impaired drivings charges laid so far this year, with over 2000 charges laid across 13 detachment areas spanning southwestern Ontario.
To date, West Region OPP detachments have conducted 7,170 RIDE check events in all of its areas which is more than double than in 2022, the release said.
