Sarnia's impaired driving charges to the end of October have surpassed the total for all of 2015.
As of October 31, city police had issued 54 drinking and drug related charges in 2016 compared to 2015's yearly total of 53.
Constable John Sottosanti says officers will continue to educate motorists about the dangers of impaired driving, during the festive RIDE campaign.
"RIDE programs, we attempt to have several a week and they will vary from time to day of the week," says Sottosanti. "Unfortunately impaired driving occurs everywhere and at any time. It's not unusual to have somebody at 4pm or 5pm, its not unusual to have somebody at 7am that decided to start driving home after a party, thinking they slept it off or had a cup of coffee and now they're sober."
Constable Sottosanti says the RIDE programs are ramping up as we near the holiday season.
Penalties for registering a warn for blood alcohol concentration can range from a three day licence suspension and fine for first time offenders, to a 30 day suspension, fine and an ignition interlock system installed in your vehicle for repeat offenders.