OPP Festive RIDE campaign enters third week

A 69-year-old of Whitewater Region in the Ottawa Valley has been charged with several offences following a traffic stop last weekend.

Officers stopped a vehicle on Pembroke Street East in Laurentian Valley Township and the driver was taken into custody and transported to the detachment for testing.

As a result, the driver has been charged with the following:

• Operation while impaired – alcohol;
• Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration 80mg plus;
• Fail to surrender insurance card;
• Fail to surrender permit for motor vehicle; and
• Driving motor vehicle with open contained of liquor.

The accused was released pending a future court appearance. Their licence was suspended for 90 days and vehicle impounded for seven days.

While OPP say this charge was not a result of a Festive R.I.D.E. checkpoint, that campaign is heading into its third week.

OPP East Region officers have conducted over 500 Festive R.I.D.E. checks since the campaign began on Nov. 20. From Nov. 27 to Dec. 3, 31 R.I.D.E. checks were completed in the Ottawa Valley alone.

One driver in the Ottawa Valley was issued a three-day licence suspension after registering a warn on a Roadside Screening Device. Another driver was charged for driving under suspension.

Across the entire region, 49 drivers have been charged with impaired operation of a vehicle so far. Each driver had their licence suspended for 90 days and vehicle impounded for seven days.

An additional nine drivers received three-day licence suspensions for registering a warn.

The Festive RIDE campaign runs until Jan. 1, 2026. Ride check can occur day or night.

“Choosing to drive while impaired is putting your life, and the lives of everyone on the road at risk,” Chief Superintendent Lisa Wilhelm, OPP East Region Commander, said in a press release. “If you plan to drink or consume drugs, have a plan. That could include a designated driver, transit, a ride-share or taxi, or just stay put.”