Multiple impaired driving charges around Ottawa; upward trend

Over the past week, OPP have charged three drivers in and around Ottawa with impaired driving, as driving under the influence continues to increase across the province.

Ottawa OPP charged an individual with multiple impaired driving related charges following a single vehicle collision on Highway 7.

Shortly before 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, OPP responded to the crash. OPP state the responding officer noticed a “strong odour of alcohol” coming from the driver.  

An approved roadside screening device was administered and the driver was brought back to the Ottawa Detachment for further testing.

As a result, David Whalen, a 35-year-old Ottawa resident, is facing the following charges

• Operation While Impaired – Alcohol and Drugs;
• Operation While Impaired – Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 plus); and
• Careless Driving.

Whalen is scheduled to appear in court later in March.

On Feb. 27 at approximately 10:00 p.m., Upper Ottawa Valley OPP responded to a collision involving three vehicles on Pembroke Street West. An investigation found that a vehicle left the roadway, struck a utility pole and continued to strike two other parked vehicles.

No injuries were reported but the driver was taken into custody where it was determined their blood alcohol was three and a half times the legal limit.

As a result, Joanne Martin, a 47-year-old from Laurentian Valley Township, is charged with:

• Operation while impaired – alcohol
• Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration 80mg plus

Martin’s licence has been suspended for 90 days and their vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days. The accused was released and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke Mar. 24. 

On Feb. 25, the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP responded to a report of a suspicious passenger vehicle which led to a multitude of charges including driving while impaired with drugs.

Investigation found that the vehicle had previously been reported stolen from a rental agency.

The driver, 30-year-old Caitlin Dennis, faces a 90-day licence suspension and has been charged with:

• Operation while impaired – drugs;
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine; and
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000.

The passenger has been charged with:

• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000;
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine; and
• Fail to comply with probation.

These incident mark a rising trend of impaired driving across Ontario.

The latest figures available from the OPP show impaired driving charges increased nearly eight per cent in 2022 and an additional 7.5 per cent in 2023, with 11,000 charges laid that year.

During the OPP’s 2024/24 Festive RIDE program, which occurred between Nov. 21, 2024 and Jan. 1, 2025, 743 people were charged across the province with impaired driving offences and a further 29 licenses were suspended.

And those charges are deadly. While alcohol and drug-related fatalities decreased in 2023 with 67 fatalities compared to 84 in 2022, it is a stark increase from the 42 fatalities in 2021.

As of Jan. 1, any impaired driver who causes a fatality will face a lifetime license suspension. The changes, which were announced last May, also increase first-time roadside license suspensions from three to seven days, and second-time suspensions from seven to 14 days.