The impaired charge total in the North Bay area has grown by two more according to the North Bay OPP.
During a RIDE check on November 29, on Highway 654 in Nipissing Township, a vehicle was stopped. After talking to the driver, the police made a demand under the Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS) laws. The driver then registered a fail on the roadside test.
As a result, a 43-year-old man from North Bay was charged with operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus). He was also issued a 90-day automatic drivers licence suspension and his vehicle was impounded for seven days.
He was released from custody with a promise to appear and will appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in North Bay on December 17.
The second incident happened on December 1 when a North Bay OPP officer was on a general patrol on Highway 11 near Callander. After following a vehicle for a short time, the officer suspected the driver was impaired.
Police did a traffic stop with the driver and upon speaking to him, made a demand under MAS. The driver registered a fail on the roadside test. As well, after searching the vehicle, the officer found a loaded .22 pistol.
As a result, a 35-year-old man from North Bay was charged with:
- Operation While Impaired – Alcohol and Drugs
- Operation While Impaired – Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 plus)
- Careless Storage of a Firearm (three counts)
- Unauthorized Possession of a Restricted Firearm (two counts)
- Possession of Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm
- Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm
- Occupant of Motor Vehicle Knowing There was a Firearm
- Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Firearm (two counts)
- Possession of Firearm or Ammunition contrary to Prohibition Order (three counts)
- Driver Fail to Surrender Licence
- Drive Motor Vehicle, No Currently Validated Permit
- Owner Operate Motor Vehicle on a Highway – No Insurance
The accused was issued a 90-day automatic drivers licence suspension and his vehicle was impounded for seven days. The man is being held in custody pending a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in North Bay on December 10.
After a further investigation, a 75-year-old man from Callander, in relation to the previous charges, was charged with:
- Careless Storage of a Firearm
- Unauthorized Possession of a Restricted Firearm
- Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Firearm
He has been released on a promise to appear and is scheduled to attend the Ontario Court of Justice on January 14.
These charges have now pushed the yearly impaired charges in North Bay to 58. In all of 2018, 49 drivers were charged.
