NEWS RELEASE
SOUTH SIMCOE POLICE
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On Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, members of the Simcoe County policing authorities combined forces to launch a four-day RIDE initiative to coincide with the legalization of cannabis in Canada.
The collaborative campaign involved officers from South Simcoe Police Service, Barrie Police Service, the Ontario Provincial Police, Rama Police and Canadian Forces Base Borden.
Over four nights, officers set up RIDE checks in a variety of locations including Bradford, Innisfil, Barrie, Alliston, Collingwood and Orillia. Here is a round up of preliminary results.
Day one of the RIDE initiative on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018 produced the following results:
1. One to three-day suspension
2. Two standardized field sobriety testing
3. One drug recognition expert examination – failed. Charged criminally impaired by drug/cannabis
4. One impaired by alcohol arrest, 130/120. Charged over .80 MGS alcohol
5. One drive under suspension
6. One charge under Cannabis Act – cannabis readily accessible to the driver
7. One Highway Traffic Act - other
On day two of the campaign on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, RIDE units set up in the Orillia area and achieved results including the following:
1. Eight approved screening device tests
2. Three standardized field sobriety tests
3. One arrest for over .80 – post - test – yielded three-day suspension
4. Two other three-day suspensions
5. Seven Provincial offences notices
6. One commercial motor vehicle removed from the roadway
7. Quantity cannabis resin seized for destruction
8. Quantity of cannabis ‘bud’ seized for further investigation.
Preliminary charge - Accessible to driver under Cannabis Act
The focus of day three of the initiative on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018 included Collingwood, Stayner, Angus, C.F.B. Borden and Barrie areas and yielded a significant amount of vehicular spot checks.
The results include the following:
1. Seven approved screening device tests
2. Four three-day suspensions
3. Two cannabis within reach offences
4. One impaired by drug C.C. charge
5. One impaired by alcohol charge
6. One over .80 charge
7. Four standardized field sobriety testing investigations
8. One drug recognition expert investigation
9. Four cannabis compliance inspections – MV
10. One stunt driving charge
11. One obstruct charge – C.C.
12. One Provincial Offences Act stop with three POA offences, Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act - Highway Traffic Act
13. Three other Highway Traffic Act offences
14. Two motor vehicles towed
The focus of day four of the initiative on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018 included Highway 89/Highway 400, Yonge Street Alliston, Loretto, Tottenham, C.F.B. Borden, Dunlop Street, Mapleview, County Road 27 north of Highway 9, High Street, Bayfield Street.
The efforts yielded the following results:
1. Nine Cannabis Act charges – readily accessible to driver
2. One Controlled Drug Substance Act charge – possession of cocaine
3. 10 approved screening device tests
4. Four Liquor Licence Act offences
5. Three standardized field sobriety tests
6. One public intoxication
7. Four seatbelt offences
8. Nine Highway Traffic Act - other
9. One impaired by alcohol arrest
10. Two over .80
We will release the final results when they become available. The formal collaborative RIDE blitz has wrapped up but police services will continue working together to keep our roads safe and free of impaired drivers and anyone else who poses a danger. Impaired driving is a crime in progress. Safely call 911 if you spot a suspected impaired driver.
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