Huron OPP Reports a 35% Increase in Impaired Operation Charges for 2020. Huron County OPP charged 88 drivers with with Impaired Driving Offences (Impaired Operation, Impaired Operation - Blood Alcohol Concentration BAC 80 Plus, Refuse to Provide Sample) up from 65 charged in 2019.
"Unfortunately, despite ongoing community awareness initiatives, education efforts, increased penalties and rigorous enforcement we continue to see drivers taking dangerous and unnecessary risks by driving after using alcohol or drugs. Last year's significant increase of Impaired Driving charges serves as a stark reminder that we must be as committed as ever with our collective efforts to ensure our roadways, waterways and trails are safe from impaired drivers," said Acting Huron County OPP Detachment Commander, Acting Inspector Adam Illman.
Huron County OPP saw the largest year over year increase in West Region. Lambton County OPP saw 116, Perth County 53 and South Bruce 55.
Nearly a third (32%) of all impaired driving charges had some type of crash. Nearly half (49%) of cases originated from a call to police from the public reporting a possible impaired driver, collision or vehicle in the ditch. And a total of 17% of drivers, 15 in total were charged with Impaired Operation by a Drug. Huron County OPP has a trained Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) and numerous officers trained in Standard Field Sobriety Testing (SFST).
46% of drivers charged registered Blood Alcohol Concentration readings more than double the legal limit of 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. The highest readings registered in 2020 were breath readings of 351 mg, over four times the legal limit.
A media release reported the vast majority of charged drivers in 2020 are male and tend to be younger. Men represent 80% of the charged drivers and nearly half (48%) of the charged drivers were under the age of 30.
43% of impaired drivers were stopped in towns and villages, whereas 57% were stopped in rural areas. All nine municipalities within Huron County had incidents of impaired driving. The lowest numbers were in Morris-Turnberry with four charges and the highest was in South Huron with 19 charged. A third of all impaired drivers were stopped between midnight and 6:00 a.m. and the busiest month in terms of charges being laid was May with 14 charges.
