Don’t drink and drive: Summer road checks underway across B.C.

With summertime now successful afloat swing, constabulary crossed nan state are ramping up roadworthy checks for impaired drivers.

In nan South Okanagan, successful nan communities of Summerland, Penticton and Osoyoos, nan B.C. Highway Patrol says it checked much than 600 vehicles betwixt July 4 to 6.

Ten drivers were handed contiguous roadside prohibitions, 2 were removed from nan roadworthy and 1 refused to supply a activity sample.

Immediate roadside prohibitions tin scope from 3 days to 90 days, depending connected nan driver’s blood-alcohol levels. Vehicle impoundments besides occur.

“Our B.C. Highway Patrol teams crossed nan Okanagan will proceed to attraction connected drivers impaired by intoxicant and narcotics done nan summertime play to trim nan superior wounded and fatal collisions connected our highways,” said Insp. Rob Nason, adding that drinking and driving tin person devastating effects.

“People who thrust while impaired tin suffer their privilege to drive; they whitethorn beryllium progressive successful collisions pinch life-altering outcomes, and it tin consequence successful taking nan lives of our friends, families and organization members.”

On Vancouver Island, 265 roadside activity tests were conducted successful nan municipality of Lake Cowichan during nan Canada Day weekend.

Police opportunity 26 drivers were recovered to beryllium impaired, pinch 24 being impaired by intoxicant and 2 impaired by drugs.

“Impaired driving is 1 of nan starring causes of deaths connected our roadways, truthful uncovering astir 1 retired of each 10 drivers we tested complete nan play impaired is of awesome interest to me,” said Staff Sgt. Adam Tallboy.

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“Drivers who person consumed narcotics aliases intoxicant person a number of options to get location safely alternatively of getting down nan instrumentality of their conveyance and endangering each different roadworthy users.”

Notably, constabulary said a postulation extremity for impairment successful Duncan led to officers seizing an estimated $400,000 successful contraband tobacco.

When officers stopped nan truck, they recovered 46 cases of unstamped and untaxed cigarettes, pinch each lawsuit containing 50 cartons of cigarettes.

“Unstamped baccy is simply a increasing interest successful B.C.,” said Sgt. Brad Robinson, who estimated nan taxation nonaccomplishment astatine $250,000.

“Our BC Highway Patrol officers are committed to utilizing their pipeline training to analyse those progressive successful trafficking illicit tobacco. Tax gross collected from baccy products supports our healthcare strategy and nan waste of unstamped baccy is often tied to organized crime.”