NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
************************
Every week, York Regional Police is disappointed by the number of people who continue to make the inexcusable decision to drive after drinking or using drugs. Those drivers should be warned: We are not giving up.
So far this year, York Regional Police have laid more than 1,600 charges for impaired-related driving offences and the number of drivers choosing to drive while impaired is showing no signs of decreasing. Sadly, seven people have lost their lives this year in collisions where alcohol or drug impairment were contributing factors.
We continue to be aggressive in our efforts to combat this issue and keep our roads safe. As part of that effort, we have released a new video to bring attention to impaired driving. The video can be found at https://youtu.be/HjClgNU2Ck8 and shared using the hashtag #ReservationsNotRequired.
The video features real in-car camera footage following the arrests of impaired drivers. It includes lines like “I am the prince of Saudi Arabia”, “Bro, I love you” and “I might have peed on your seat a little bit”.
We also want to bring attention to the very serious consequences a driver will face if they are driving while impaired. York Regional Police has made the decision to release the names of everyone charged with impaired driving related offences. In addition to spending at least one night in jail, having your vehicle towed and your license suspended, the realities of your poor decision is public record. We encourage drivers to think about the impact this would have on their lives or the very real potential consequences of causing a fatal collision and taking the lives of innocent people. If you plan to drink or use drugs this weekend or this New Year’s Eve, make the decision now not to drive and plan a safe method of transportation.
York Regional Police thanks members of the community for helping us stop and arrest impaired drivers by calling 9-1-1 through the Safe Roads...Your Call program. We consider these incidents a life-threatening crime in progress and will continue to respond to these calls.
We are not giving up.
************************
