Halifax police catch driver with blood alcohol level of 270 mg %

Halifax Regional Police (HRP) released new statistics on impaired driving for the month of June, highlighting a pressing problem in the community.

Officers stopped and charged 42 drivers with impaired-related offences, 25 of those involved alcohol, nine involved drugs and eight drivers were issued driving suspensions after having consumed alcohol.

Police told CityNews that statistics on impaired driving vary from year to year, which is a result of many factors.

“I can (say) that we do continue to detect and catch impaired drivers on a regular basis throughout our region and all times of the day,” Constable John MacLeod, with HRP, said in an email.

HRP noted in its statistics the blood alcohol concentrations ranged greatly for drivers that provided breath samples.

Data showed drivers had between 80 to 270 mg per cent, with 10 drivers being twice the legal limit.

McLeod said blood concentrations of 270 mg per cent, or higher, are not uncommon.

“We know that impaired driving causes an unnecessary risk to public safety and it is a priority of the Halifax Regional Police to take these dangerous drivers off our roadways,” he said.

The seven people that refused to provide a breath sample were charged, police said.

In just over half the incidents, officials received calls from members of the public who suspected impaired driving.

“We thank the public for reporting suspected impaired drivers and encourage anyone to call 911 immediately if they suspect someone is driving impaired,” police said in a post on X.