Kingston Police R.I.D.E. Programs result in numerous impaired charges and driving suspensions

Since the end of February Kingston Police have conducted a total of 10 R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) programs that have resulted in a number of criminal impaired driving and related Highway Traffic Act offences, as well as suspensions.

During these shifts, which are in addition to regular uniform patrol duties, approximately 2,000 vehicles and their drivers came through various R.I.D.E. locations across the City of Kingston, and during different times of the day and evening. Of these, 191 roadside breath samples were obtained by officers due to reasonable suspicion of alcohol consumption (e.g., smell of alcohol from breath, admission of earlier drinking, etc.), or from the authority to demand via mandatory alcohol screening. In 2018, Canada introduced Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS), allowing police to demand a breath sample from any driver during a lawful traffic stop, even without suspicion of alcohol impairment, as a proven traffic safety measure to enhance deterrence and reduce the incidence of impaired driving. 

Some of the offences and events include:

On February 25, 2025, one 41-year-old driver failed a roadside sample on Centennial Dr north of Kingsdale Ave. They were arrested and brought to the station where samples of their breath on the Intoxilyzer instrument indicated they had more than twice the legal limit of alcohol of 80 mg per 100 ml of blood. This results in an immediate 90-day driver’s licence suspension and a seven-day vehicle impoundment, with the owner or operator responsible for all related tow and impound fees.

Aside from fines and the potential for jail time, upon a first-time conviction the licence suspension is extended for a minimum of one year, where the driver must attend a mandatory education or treatment plan, plus require the installation and use of an ignition interlock device for the same amount of time, where all costs are assumed by the driver. Subsequent convictions increase all these penalties and can lead to a lifetime licence suspension. Drivers can normally expect to see significant increases to their insurance premiums or may even be deemed uninsurable.

On February 26 a 22-year-old novice driver came through a R.I.D.E. program setup at Days Rd and was given a breath demand through Mandatory Alcohol Screening. He was found to be in the Warn range and subsequently suspended for three days. However, due to being a novice driver, where a condition is to drive with no alcohol in their system, he was additionally charged under the Highway Traffic Act for Novice driver – B.A.C. (Blood Alcohol Concentration) above zero.    

On March 2 a 36-year-old motorist approached a R.I.D.E. program where they were already a suspended driver and on a provincial probation order ordering them not to drive or have care and control of a motor vehicle. They could not produce a driver’s licence and then gave a false name and date of birth to officers. When a licence check on the MTO database revealed no such person, and the driver appeared evasive in nature, they eventually admitted they had lied about their identity. Consequently, the individual was arrested and charged for the criminal offence of obstructing police, as well as issued provincial summons for driving while suspended, failing to surrender both permit and insurance, and having an obstructed licence plate.  

On March 19 a 33-year-old driver came through a R.I.D.E. program located at Highway 15 and Woodburn Rd, where they stated they had a drink at a friend’s residence. A sample provided into a roadside device resulted in a Warn reading, meaning they had between 50 and 80 mg of alcohol in their bloodstream. This resulted in a three-day licence suspension. They only produced a health card when asking for identification, so a query of their driver’s licence status indicated they were already a suspended driver due to unpaid fines, so they were subsequently charged under the Highway Traffic Act.

At the same location on Highway 15 another motorist, 64 years of age, was observed with open cannabis ready available to the driver. This was a $215 fine via the Cannabis Control Act. Another R.I.D.E. program resulted in the same charge for similar circumstances, where open or unsealed marijuana was within arm’s reach of the driver.

On March 27 a 27-year-old came through a R.I.D.E. program on Creekford Rd. Cannabis that was readily available to the driver was observed by an officer, where signs of impairment were also noticed. A Standardized Field Sobriety Test (S.F.S.T.) was performed at the roadside where the driver performed poorly. This provided grounds for officers to detain and transport the motorist to the police station where a Drug Recognition Evaluator (D.R.E.) confirmed they were impaired by drug. They were charged accordingly and later released from the station with a future court date.

During that same evening and location, the R.I.D.E. officers also issued a 3-day licence suspension for a driver blowing in the Warn range, another motorist was a prior suspended driver, and another was operating a motor vehicle without valid insurance.  

Additionally, over the month many other Highway Traffic Act (HTA) offences which were observed by officers included distracted driving by using a cell phone, no or improper use of seat belts, unnecessary noise from a muffler, cracked windshield, obstructed licence plates, malfunctioning headlights, and more. 

Regardless of the season Kingston Police continue to combat impaired driving by conducting further R.I.D.E. programs, awareness, and education. Motorists are advised to plan ahead, take alternative transportation, assign a designated driver, and know your limits. Arrive alive!

Additional information on impaired driving in Ontario can be found here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/impaired-driving