OTTAWA — In November, more than 40 persons were arrested and charged for impaired driving.

This included one man who was stopped, in a construction zone while workers were present, with a blood alcohol content over twice the legal limit of 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood.

“With the holiday season upon us, the Ottawa police will commence its Festive RIDE campaign starting this weekend and continue into January 2021,” the Ottawa Police Service released in a statement Tursday (Nov. 29).

Police will be looking for impaired drivers at various locations throughout the city. 

“Every week, we see good people make a terrible decision and get behind the wheel of their car when impaired by alcohol or drugs,” OPS Impaired Countermeasures Sgt. Troy Froats said. “Please plan your safe return home in advance, arrange a ride with a sober driver or take public transit. There is no excuse for impaired driving.”

It is an offence to operate a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs – including cannabis and prescription drugs. Persons charged with impaired driving face an immediate 90 day driving suspension and lose their vehicle for seven days.

“If convicted, an impaired driver can face a minimum one-year driving suspension and monetary fines,” Sgt. Froats said. “And that may be the least of it when you consider the risk that a driver may have to live with a resulting tragedy as a consequence of their decision to drive impaired.”

The OPS says if you suspect someone is driving impaired, call 911. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.