There's never an excuse to drink and drive.
That's the message from Sarnia police after a significant increase in alcohol-related impaired driving arrests in the first half of the year.
Officers laid 38 drunk driving charges between January and July, compared to 24 during the same period in 2018.
Cst. John Sottosanti said if you're hosting a party, it's your responsibility to ensure your guests make it home safely. He said that could include a taxi, public transit, or designating a driver.
"By going out there and drinking and driving, you're taking not only your own life and the passengers of your vehicle's lives into your hands but you're also looking at other individuals that may be walking or driving their cars, and possibly taking their lives," he said.
Cst. Sottosanti said they've had someone blow 400 which would normally put them in an alcohol-induced coma.
Impaired by drug charges doubled from two to four during that same period.
Sottosanti said that's not only because of cannabis legalization, but opioids are also playing a factor.
"There's no reason why you should be smoking marijuana and driving, but there are also other drugs that we're concerned about," said Sottosanti. "We're concerned about opioids. We've had individuals behind the wheel that were literally passed out at an intersection while on an opioid. So it's scary, it really is. I'm hoping that in time, with common sense, some people might change."
Five people refused to provide a breath sample, up from three in 2018.
