Four charged during weekend RIDE program

North Bay OPP has charged four different people for impaired driving during a RIDE program set up at the bypass last weekend.

In the early morning of December 20, police say a vehicle made a U-turn before arriving at the RIDE program. Officers tracked the vehicle, and a roadside sobriety test led to the arrest of a 28-year-old North Bay man who was charged with:

• Operation While Impaired – Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 Plus) contrary to section 320.14(1)(b) of the Criminal Code (CC);
• Operation While Impaired – Alcohol and Drugs contrary to section 320.14(1)(a) of the CC;
• Novice driver – B.A.C. Above Zero contrary to section 44.1(3) of the Highway Traffic Act. 

Later that same morning, police stopped a vehicle on Seymour Street. The driver failed a roadside breath test, resulting in a 35-year-old man from Quebec being charged for one count of impaired driving. 

Police also arrested another man that afternoon after receiving complaints of an impaired driver on Highway 11 in Gladman Township. 

Officers stopped the vehicle and brought the driver back to the Temagami detachment for further testing. Police also drugs suspected to be crystal meth and ecstasy in the vehicle, resulting in a 35-year-old from Kirkland Lake being charged with:

• Operation While Impaired – Alcohol and Drugs contrary to section 320.14(1)(a) of the CC;
• Possession of a Schedule I Substance (two counts) contrary to section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act; and
• Operation of a Motor Vehicle Without Insurance contrary to section 2(1)(a) of the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act. 

On Monday morning, North Bay OPP responded to a single-vehicle crash in Bonfield Township. Police say they found a vehicle in a ditch resting against a broken hydro pole. 

As a result, a 47-year-old man from Rutherglen was charged with:

• Operation While Impaired – Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 Plus) contrary to section 320.14(1)(b) of the Criminal Code (CC);
• Operation While Impaired – Alcohol and Drugs contrary to section 320.14(1)(a) of the CC;
• Driving While Under Suspension contrary to section 53(1) of the Highway Traffic Act. 

In all cases, the drivers’ vehicles were impounded for seven days, with their licenses being suspended for 90 days. 

North Bay OPP has charged 61 drivers with impaired driving this year.