Three men face impaired driving changes following separate incidents within a three-hour span, including one who police say seemingly didn’t realize he was sleeping in his own driveway.
“The Guelph Police Service would like to encourage the public to always consume alcohol and cannabis responsibly,” states a news release. “Please don’t drive if you are going to consume alcohol or cannabis, and please ensure that you plan ahead so that you have a safe ride home.
“Anyone who spots a suspected impaired driver is asked to immediately call 911.”
The first incident happened just before 10 p.m. on Sunday, when police received information about a potentially imparted driver. Officers attended the vehicle owner’s address and reportedly found a man asleep in the vehicle in the driveway.
“When officers woke him the male appeared confused, starting the vehicle and telling them he was heading home,” a news release states.
The man was removed from the vehicle and had a “strong odour” of alcoholic beverage on his breath, the release explains.
A test at the police station allegedly confirmed the man had more than the legal level of alcohol in his system; police say he refused to provide a second sample, as required.
A 40-year-old Guelph man is charged with impaired driving and refusing to comply with a breath demand.
About 30 minutes later, police learned of another potentially impaired driver leaving a south-end establishment. Officers spotted the suspect vehicle on Edinburgh Road South and reportedly watched it travel through a red light at Youngman Drive.
During a subsequent traffic stop, officers detected a “strong odour” of alcoholic beverage, the release notes.
The driver was arrested and taken to the police station, where testing reportedly confirmed he had more than the legal amount of alcohol in his system.
A 50-year-old Guelph man is charged with impaired driving and failing to stop at a red light.
Shortly before 1 a.m. on Monday, officers patrolling the area near Silvercreek Parkway South and Waterloo Avenue reportedly observed a vehicle being driven erratically. After stopping the vehicle, police allegedly spotted a marijuana cigarette in the console beside the driver, who police say refused “several” demands for a breath sample.
As explained in the news release, police learned the man had a suspended driver’s licence.
A 37-year-old Toronto man is charged with refusing to comply with a breath demand, driving while suspended and several other provincial offences.
In addition to the charges laid, “each of the drivers had their licences suspended for 90 days and their vehicles impounded,” states the release. “They were all released with upcoming court dates.”
