Police catch 18 drunk and drug-impaired drivers in Fraser Valley community
Police nabbed an alarming number of drunk or drug-impaired drivers in Abbotsford, B.C., over the long weekend – including 11 on Friday night alone.
Sgt. Paul Walker of the Abbotsford Police Department said officers had caught 18 impaired drivers by Monday afternoon, which is unusual for this time of year.
“That number is pretty concerning to us,” Walker said. “People are not making great choices driving home from their destinations, their office parties, their night out with a friend.”
The 11 drivers pulled over on Friday were caught within a four-hour window, from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., Walker said.
With the holiday season and related festivities approaching, Abbotsford police urged revelers to plan ahead, which could mean anything from arranging for a designated driver to using Operation Red Nose.
Motorists can use the Operation Red Nose website or app to have a volunteer drive them home in their own vehicle, but only in certain communities on certain dates.
“There’s no excuse to drive home impaired,” Walker added. “We have ride-hailing services, we have taxis.”
Those who decide to take their chances and drive home under the influence of alcohol or drugs could face anything from an immediate roadside suspension to criminal charges, Walker warned.
“We will be out there every day, every night looking for impaired drivers – and if we find you, we will hold you accountable,” he said.
According to the Abbotsford Police Department, officers have taken approximately 650 impaired drivers off the roads so far this year, including more than 100 who were impaired by drugs.
By comparison, there were 722 alleged impaired drivers nabbed in the community last year, 120 of whom were impaired by drugs.
With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Kevin Charach
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Taylor Swift in Toronto: Highlights from Night 1 of the 'Eras Tour'
'Toronto, Welcome to the Eras Tour!' Taylor Swift told a roaring sold-out crowd at the Rogers Centre on Thursday night as she began the Canadian leg of her record-breaking tour.
Purolator workers won't handle Canada Post packages if strike occurs, union says
Teamsters Canada says if Canada Post workers go on strike or are locked out, its members at Purolator won't handle any packages postmarked or identified as originating from the carrier.
Trump chooses anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary
President-elect Donald Trump announced Thursday he will nominate anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, putting a man whose views public health officials have decried as dangerous in charge of a massive agency that oversees everything from drug, vaccine and food safety to medical research, Medicare and Medicaid.
Canada urged to cut government-funded research collaborations with China: report
A newly released report is urging Canada to immediately end all government-funded research collaborations with China in a variety of different areas.
Police foil attempted $13,000 cheese theft in North Vancouver
Police in North Vancouver say they prevented the theft of nearly $13,000 worth of cheese from a grocery store earlier this year. Now, they're asking the public for help finding the alleged thief.
Star Wars Hallmark Christmas ornament recalled over mould concerns
Hallmark Canada has recalled a Star Wars-themed Christmas ornament after mould was found on several of the products.
Winnipeg driver rescues passengers from burning van
A Winnipeg driver was in the right place at the right time when a paratransit van caught fire Thursday morning.
McDavid scores to reach 1,000 points, adds OT assist in Oilers' 3-2 win over Predators
Connor McDavid scored early in the second period to become the fourth-fastest NHL player to reach 1,000 points, then assisted on Darnell Nurse's overtime goal in the Edmonton Oilers' 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night.
Centre Block renovation facing timeline and budget 'pressures'
The multi-billion-dollar renovation of parliament’s Centre Block building continues to be on time and on budget, but construction crews are facing 'pressures' when it comes to the deadline and total costs, according to the department in charge of the project.