Crimebeat – EPS Target Public Intoxication

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edmonton police serviceTHUNDER BAY – Crimebeat – The City of Edmonton Police Service is working to engage the local community. They have started a weekly community update to share with residents. This week’s update is on public intoxication.

The Edmonton Police Service continues to make consistent impaired driving intercepts through the Curb the Danger and Checkstop programs, and police encourage motorists to continue to report impaired drivers by calling 911 if it is safe to do so.

Checkstop, Curb the Danger, and Target All Drunk Drivers, are all EPS impaired driving enforcement efforts aimed at detecting drunk drivers and removing them from the road.

Through the Curb the Danger program, the public is encouraged to call 911 to report suspected impaired drivers so that police can intercept and remove them from the road. In cases that police cannot intercept the vehicle, the vehicle’s registered owner is sent a warning letter.

“Calling 911 in an emergency, or to report an impaired driver, is permitted while driving under the new distracted driving law,” said Staff Sergeant Barry Maron, EPS Traffic Section. “Public reporting is key to the success of the Curb the Danger program, and just in the last few days, we have had five calls from motorists reporting impaired drivers. If you suspect a driver is impaired, please call 911 as soon as possible, if it is safe to do so.”

For the month of August 2011, there were 728 calls from the public to report suspected impaired drivers, which resulted in 292 intercepts, 63 impaired charges, 23 24-hour suspensions, and 59 letters sent to registered owners.

These numbers are similar to July 2011, where there were 700 calls, 232 intercepts, 55 impaired charges, 20 24-hour suspensions, and 65 letters sent to registered owners. From January 1 to August 31, 2011, Curb the Danger received 5,339 calls from the public, with 2,062 intercepts, 504 impaired charges, 183 24-hour suspensions, and 433 letters sent to the registered owners.

The EPS also conducted two Checkstops on the 2011 Labour Day weekend, where there were 13 impaired charges, 30 24-hour suspensions, and 30 miscellaneous traffic violations. From January 1 to September 6, 2011, the Checkstop enforcement efforts have resulted in 82 impaired charges, 143 24-hour suspensions, and 201 miscellaneous traffic violations.

Crimebeat is a regular feature offering information on crime and law enforcement issues.

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