Multiple impaired drivers pulled off Halifax roads over one evening

Half dozen people stopped and were charged by RCMP after police conducted enforcement targeting Halifax Regional Municipality.

It’s a rising concern for officers in the region, as they have been continuously pulling over impaired drivers in the provincial capital. RCMP said that driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a “significant factor in preventable crashes, injuries, and fatalities.”

The first incident happened Aug. 7; the beginning of the long weekend.

Police were near the 3600 block of Hammonds Plains Road in Upper Tantallon and stopped a Honda Civic leaving the area. During the conversation police said they believed the driver could be under the influence and asked the man to take a breath sample.

He had a licence with a zero-blood alcohol condition.

As a result, the 43-year-old gave a 24 mg% sample, prompting police to issue him a ticket for failing to comply with his licence conditions, the release notes.

Just 10 minutes later, in Porters Lake, an officer was on Highway 7 and saw a driver not wearing a seatbelt. The Hyundai Accent stopped for the officer who noted the driver could be impaired.

The 31-year-old Lawrencetown man is expected in a provincial court at a later date after failing to comply with the breath sample. He was also issued a ticket for not wearing his seatbelt and his vehicle was towed, police said.

In Spry Harbour police had a checkpoint set up and had a driver try to leave without stopping.

“The driver didn’t initially stop and had to be directed to do so,” they said in the release. “While speaking with the driver, the officer observed signs of impairment and demanded a roadside breath sample.”

The 53-year-old woman gave a 29 mg% sample and was given a licence suspension.

One driver needed to be transported back to a nearby detachment after officials said he gave a sample of 190 and 189 mg%. He was caught driving a Ford Fusion and leaving a parking lot in Timberlea. 

Suspicious incident

On Aug. 9, a report to police led to drug charges in Halifax.

Around 3:00 p.m. officers were told that a man asked a passerby for help removing a woman from his vehicle. When they arrived they arrested the 43-year-old man from Halifax and brought him to a detachment.

A drug test was done and officials said they believed he was impaired from drugs. He’s expected in a provincial court.

A 44-year-old from Wellington was stopped in Fall River after police ran his licence plate and saw the registration was expired.

After stopping the vehicle, the driver gave them expired documents and police believe he was impaired. He provided breath samples of 100 and 90 mg%.

“Motorists are reminded that impaired driving, whether by alcohol or drugs, remains one of the leading criminal causes of death in Canada,” police said.