RCMP warn of dangers of driving while impaired

SUMMERSIDE – A recent incident has prompted Prince District RCMP to warn Islanders about the dangers of driving while being impaired by drugs.

In the early morning of Jan. 27, officers on patrol found a parked vehicle with its hazard lights activated on Route 2 in Richmond. It was blocking almost the entire west-bound lane of the busy highway.

The officers found a 20-year-old man from Mount Royal, Jacob Lee Anderson Bulger, sleeping behind the wheel.

“The officers could see signs of impairment, however no smell of alcohol (was) emitting from the man,” said RCMP in a statement.

The police statement also said that a drug pipe was found in the vehicle.

Officers roused the driver and conducted a standardized field sobriety test. Bulger performed poorly in the roadside test and was arrested and taken for a follow-up with a specially trained Drug Recognition Expert office. He also refused a request that he submit to a drug blood screening test.

In court, Bulger faced several charges including eight counts of being at large before his term of imprisonment was expired, two counts of operating a vehicle while disqualified from doing so, one count of operating a vehicle while impaired by a drug and one count of refusing to provide a sample of his blood when prompted by a police officer under reasonable grounds to determine the concentration of drugs in his system.

Bulger was sentenced on Jan. 30 to serve 62 days in jail but received credit for the equivalent of 12 days he had already served in custody. He must also remain on probation for 24 months, is prohibited from driving for 12 months and must pay $1,200 in victim surcharges. His car was also impounded for six months.

RCMP are using this case to highlight the importance of being sober before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.

“Impaired is impaired and it’s never the right choice to get behind the wheel when you are impaired by any substance. Make sure you are alert and capable to take on the responsibilities of driving. It’s a privilege that can be taken away - worse yet, you could do yourself and others harm,” said the police force in a statement.