The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) wrapped up their "robust" Festive RIDE campaign this week, charging 743 drivers with impaired driving between Nov. 21 and New Year's Eve.
According to officers, these drivers "rang in the new year with the threat of losing their driver's licence for a full year, and paying the tough financial penalties associated with this serious Criminal Code offence."
The OPP also issued 155 immediate roadside Warn Range Suspensions to drivers who registered a Blood Alcohol Concentration between 0.05 and 0.08.
During the campaign, OPP officers conducted 9,268 RIDE initiatives throughout the province, working around the clock to keep road users safe.
The province-wide campaign has a notable connection to Oakville: this year's launch of the Festive RIDE launched at the HRPS headquarters here in Oakville two weeks ago.
Read more here: Halton Police host provincial police at impaired holiday driving campaign launch
"The OPP would like to thank all citizens who stepped up to help keep roads safe by being a designated driver and having other plans in place to help keep impaired drivers off our roads," says a statement from the OPP.
The Festive Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) campaign is an annual initiative led by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police. The campaign forms part of the OPP's commitment to save lives on Ontario roads, waterways and trails through targeted enforcement and public education.