Twenty charged by OPP during annual Festive RIDE campaign

WELLINGTON COUNTY – Twenty people were charged during the Wellington County OPP’s recent Festive RIDE campaign.

Officials say the local campaign, which ran from Nov. 26 to Jan. 2, led all West Region OPP jurisdictions in alcohol-related driving charges.

Wellington OPP officers conducted 91 RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) checks throughout the campaign and charged 20 people with impaired driving offences, including refusal to provide a breath sample.

Eleven others received warning range suspensions for having 50 to 80 mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in their system.

“The enforcement of impaired driving related legislation continues to be a top priority in Wellington County,” stated acting staff sergeant Darryl Porterfield.

He added that when charges were laid “drivers have consciously made the decision to place their own safety and the safety of our communities at risk.”

Porterfield noted, “Wellington OPP will continue to conduct strict, targeted enforcement of our impaired driving legislation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“We are committed to working with our community members to ensure that Wellington County roadways are some of the safest in the province.”