Comox Valley RCMP frontline officers saw an increase in impaired driving last week, resulting in 7 drivers being taken off the road in a 4 hour time period.
Just before 11 p.m. on July 6th, the first driver was pulled over on Cliffe Avenue for driving without proper headlights.
The driver was issued a 3-day driving prohibition for being impaired by alcohol.
The second driver was stopped because he appeared to be smoking cannabis. He was issued a 24-hour driving prohibition for being impaired by drugs.
The third driver was pulled over after an officer observed the driver swerve the vehicle into oncoming traffic suddenly and then return back to their own lane.
This driver was issued a 90-day driving prohibition for being impaired by alcohol and their car was impounded for 30 days.
The fourth driver was stopped for speeding on Island Highway South by Beachwood Road.
This driver was issued a 90-day driving prohibition for being impaired by alcohol, a speeding ticket, and their car was impounded for 30 days.
The fifth driver, a new driver, was stopped for speeding and issued a 24-hour driving prohibition for being impaired by alcohol and a speeding ticket.
The sixth driver was pulled over at 1:44 a.m. on Lerwick Road in Courtenay. They were issued a 90-day driving prohibition and their car was impounded for 30 days being impaired by alcohol.
At approximately 2:45 a.m., the seventh driver of the night was arrested after crashing her vehicle into a parked vehicle on Kilpatrick Avenue in Courtenay.
Criminal charges are being recommended against the driver, who has since been released from police custody with an upcoming court date.
“In the midst of all of these impaired drivers being removed from our roads, frontline officers were also attending calls from the public,” said Cst. Monika Terragni, Media Relations Officer, Comox Valley RCMP.
“They were responding to calls for assisting Emergency Health Services, found property, an assault, well-being checks, someone screaming, people gathering and possibly using drugs, a noise complaint, a group of what appeared to be teenagers spray painting a building, vehicles doing doughnuts in a parking lot, and a disturbance.”
According to ICBC, approximately 11 people are killed and 310 are injured in 550 impaired driving related crashes on Vancouver Island every year.
For more information on the price of alcohol and drug impaired driving, visit ICBC’s website.
