By: Michael Bennett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Ridgetown Independent News
The Chatham-Kent Police Service was pleased that no impaired charges were issued during its Festive Reduced Impaired Driving Everywhere R.I.D.E. campaign.
The CK Police checked 2,894 vehicles during 23 spot checks as part of the Festive R.I.D.E. campaign, which ran from Nov. 19 to Jan. 1.
Officers administered 15 roadside tests and issued only one three-day warning.
However, CK Police laid 25 impaired driving charges during the same seven-week period as the Festive R.I.D.E. campaign.
“We’re very pleased with the overall success of the R.I.D.E. campaign and public awareness we saw,” said Act. Sgt. Lisa Rodger, of the Traffic Management Unit Patrol Support Section. “It is disappointing that impaired drivers are still being arrested.”
“One impaired driver on the roadway is one too many, and these arrests remind us why enforcement and education must continue,” Rodger said.
CK Police had already arrested 129 drivers on impaired charges, investigated 33 collisions related to impaired collisions that led to two deaths in 2025, before the Nov. 19 launch of the Festive R.I.D.E. campaign.
CK Police had already set up 78 R.I.D.E. spot checks in 2025 throughout Chatham-Kent before the Festive campaign began.
In 2024, CK Police conducted 75 R.I.D.E. spot checks, as 6,886 vehicles were stopped and 22 roadside tests were administered.
Rodger reminds motorists that the CK Police will continue its impaired driving enforcement throughout the year by setting up random R.I.D.E. spot checks anywhere in the municipality at any time.
“The success of the Festive R.I.D.E. program is only possible with the support and cooperation of the community,” read a statement from the CKPS. “Thank you to the community for your ongoing cooperation, as CKPS continues proactive enforcement efforts to ensure road safety remains a top priority throughout the year.”
The Ontario Provincial Police West Region announced 269 individuals were charged with impaired driving while 40 warning-range suspensions were issued during its Festive R.I.D.E. campaign, which ran from Nov. 20 to Jan. 1.
West Region OPP officers conducted 3,095 Festive R.I.D.E. spot checks across 13 detachment areas, its highest number in five years.
The Elgin Detachment, which includes Chatham-Kent, conducted 364 spot checks, resulting in 10 impaired charges and two warn-range suspensions.
Provincially, OPP officers laid 1,268 impaired driving charges and 150 warn-range suspensions in 11,130 R.I.D.E. spot checks on OPP-patrolled areas across the province.
In 2024, the West Region Festive R.I.D.E. campaign resulted in 292 impaired driving charges and 19 warn-range suspensions in 1,938 spot checks.
“West Region remains committed to keeping our roads safe through proactive R.I.D.E. programs and focused impaired-driving enforcement efforts,” said Inspector Michael McConnell, OPP West Region Traffic and Marine Manager. “We remind all drivers to plan ahead, make responsible choices, and always drive sober-if you’ve been drinking, arrange a safe ride home.”
Both the CK Police and West Region OPP reminded motorists to call 9-1-1 if they suspect someone is driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
And as a new year begins, the Province of Ontario has put stiffer penalties on impaired drivers into effect.
Longer roadside suspensions will be issued to young or novice drivers, while mandatory remedial education will be imposed on first-time offenders.
If the police determine you are driving while impaired, you can face immediate licence suspensions, fines and reinstatement fees, enrolment into education or treatment programs, vehicle impoundment and harsher penalties upon conviction.
Penalties vary depending on age, licence type, the amount of alcohol or drugs in your system and how many times you have been convicted or had your licence suspended.
Warn range penalties for first-time offenders with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) between 0.05-0.079 who fail the Standard Field Sobriety Test (alcohol and/or drugs) in an immediate seven-day licence suspension, an eight-hour education course and $250 penalty.
Second offenders receive an immediate 14-day licence suspension, a 16-hour treatment program and $350 penalty. In contrast, third-time offenders are issued an immediate 30-day licence suspension, a 16-hour treatment program, a $450 penalty and an ignition interlock device for six months.
First-time offenders with a BAC of 0.08 or higher who fail or refuse to comply with a demand for alcohol or drug testing or perform poorly during a Drug Recognition Expert evaluation will receive an immediate roadside 90-day suspension, seven-day vehicle impoundment, an eight-hour education course and a $550 penalty.
Second-time offenders receive an immediate roadside 90-day suspension and a seven-day vehicle impoundment. 16-hour treatment program and a $550 penalty, while third-time offenders get an immediate roadside 90-day suspension, a seven-day vehicle impoundment, a 16-hour treatment program, a $550 final, and an ignition interlock condition for six months.
Offenders will also have to pay a licence reinstatement fee when their licence is suspended.
No matter the age or licence status, drivers who are convicted of impaired driving in court can face additional fines and jail time, plus a one-year licence suspension, and must attend a mandatory education or treatment program. For first-time offenders, an ignition interlock device will be installed for one year.
A second conviction within 10 years will result in a minimum three-year licence suspension, mandatory education or treatment program, an ignition interlock device for at least three years and a mandatory medical evaluation.
A third conviction within 10 years will result in a lifetime licence suspension, which may be reduced after 10 years by meeting specific criteria.
A fourth conviction within 10 years will result in a lifetime licence suspension with no possibility of reduction.
If you are convicted criminally of impaired driving causing death in court, you can face additional fines and jail time, plus a lifetime licence suspension, which may be reduced after 25 years by meeting specific criteria.
If you are 21 years of age or younger with a G1, G2, M1 or M2 licence, you cannot have any drugs or alcohol in your system.
Offenders will face standard penalties, but could face additional penalties for impairment, the same as a fully licensed driver.
First-time novice drivers received an immediate seven-day licence suspension, a fine of $60 to $1,000 if convicted, an eight-hour education course, and a $250 fine.
Second-time offenders received an immediate 14-day licence suspension, a fine of $60 to $1,000 if convicted, a 16-hour education course, and a $350 fine.
Third-time offenders received an immediate 30-day licence suspension, a fine of $60 to $1,000 if convicted, a 16-hour education course, a $450 fine, and an ignition interlock device must be installed.
Commercial vehicle drivers, e.g. truck drivers or bus drivers, cannot have any drugs or alcohol in their system. Offenders will face standard penalties, plus additional penalties for impairment, similar to those for other fully-licensed drivers.
First-time offenders are assessed an immediate three-day licence suspension, an eight-hour education course and $250 fine; second offences carry a three-day licence suspension, a 16-hour education course and $350 fine; while third-time offenders get a three-day licence suspension, a 16-hour education course, $450 fine and the installation of an ignition interlock device.
