Police arrest two drivers, suspend eight licences in Fort Erie

Niagara Regional Police arrested two drivers and suspended eight licences after officers stopped more than 400 vehicles at RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) checkpoints on Saturday night, including one at Gorham and Garrison roads in Fort Erie.

Officers pulled 36 of those drivers aside for roadside breath tests, police said in a release on Monday.

A 49-year-old man gave breath samples over the legal limit and faces a charge of operating a conveyance with a blood alcohol concentration over 80 milligrams, police said. Officers suspended his licence for 90 days and impounded his vehicle for seven days.

A 49-year-old woman failed or refused a roadside breath demand, police said. She lost her licence for 90 days.

Five other drivers blew in the “Alert” range and lost their licences for seven days. Until this year, a first Alert reading in Ontario brought a three-day suspension. The province raised it to seven days on January 1 as part of changes aimed at alcohol- and drug-impaired driving.

A 17-year-old G2 driver gave a sample showing alcohol, police said. Ontario bars novice drivers from having any alcohol in their system, so officers charged the driver and suspended the licence.

Officers also wrote 14 provincial offence notices during the evening.

Saturday’s operation stopped more vehicles than three earlier RIDE checks police reported this year.

Officers stopped about 300 vehicles in Welland and Niagara Falls in January, about 320 in Niagara Falls and St. Catharines in April and more than 350 in Port Colborne, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls on Canada Day.

The Canada Day stops ended with three arrests, including a Fort Erie man charged with driving over the legal limit.

The Ministry of the Solicitor General paid for part of Saturday’s operation.

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