June 3, 2025 – Thunder Bay, ON | NetNewsLedger Regional Crime Report – In a coordinated effort to enhance public safety and uphold environmental regulations, officers from the Armstrong and Thunder Bay Detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) teamed up with Conservation Officers from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) on June 1, 2025, for a large-scale joint-enforcement R.I.D.E. initiative along Highway 527, within the Unincorporated Territory of Thunder Bay.
This high-visibility operation featured Mandatory Alcohol Screening (M.A.S.) alongside a fish and wildlife inspection station, targeting both local motorists and tourists headed into Northern Ontario’s backcountry. The focus was on impaired driving prevention, road safety awareness, and compliance with Ontario’s fish and wildlife regulations.
Nearly 500 Vehicles and Vessels Stopped
Throughout the day, enforcement teams conducted inspections on approximately 500 vehicles and vessels, with 80 drivers undergoing roadside alcohol screening. Encouragingly, no impaired drivers were detected.
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) Findings:
Conservation Officers issued a number of charges and warnings under provincial environmental legislation:
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1 charge: Possessing an over-limit of fish – Ontario Fishery Regulations 2007, s.16(a)
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2 warnings: Taking aggregate without a permit – Aggregate Resources Act, s.34(1)(a)
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3 warnings: Failing to remove drain plug from boats – Invasive Species Act, O. Reg. 354/16, s.14(2)(a)
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9 warnings: Improperly skinned or packaged fish – Ontario Fishery Regulations 2007, s.39(1)
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4 black bears were also inspected by conservation personnel as part of routine wildlife monitoring.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Enforcement Results:
OPP officers laid several charges and issued warnings under the Highway Traffic Act:
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1 charge: Driving with a speed measuring warning device (radar detector) – HTA s.79(2)
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1 warning: Possessing more than one driver’s licence – HTA s.35(1)(e)
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1 warning: No validation on licence plate – HTA s.7(1)(c)
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2 warnings: Insecure load – HTA s.111(2)
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2 warnings: Drawing a trailer with no plate – HTA s.7(4)(b)
One radar detector was seized from a vehicle registered in Minnesota, highlighting enforcement of Ontario’s prohibition on radar detectors, including for out-of-province drivers.
Criminal Charge: Operation While Prohibited
A 61-year-old Thunder Bay man was also charged with Operation While Prohibited under the Criminal Code of Canada. His vehicle was towed and impounded for 45 days as per statutory requirements for driving while prohibited.
Community Safety and Environmental Stewardship
The joint initiative reflects a growing emphasis on collaborative enforcement and public education in Ontario’s remote regions, where tourism and outdoor recreation are booming. Officers used the opportunity to inform motorists about legal hunting and fishing practices, boating safety, and responsible backcountry travel.
Both OPP and MNRF officials praised the success of the operation and emphasized its dual benefits of deterring criminal activity and preserving natural resources.
