DAYTIME DRUNKS

The RCMP is growing concerned about what seems to be an unfortunate impaired driving trend

The RCMP is growing concerned about what seems to be an unfortunate impaired driving trend.

More than 10 people have been charged with impaired driving since the start of 2020, but to add to the disturbing nature of people feeling it's OK to drive while impaired, several have been found committing this offence between the hours of 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

A 67-year-old Charlottetown man was taken into custody for drunk driving on Monday, Feb. 3, just after 2 p.m. Kings District RCMP had received a call of a possible impaired driver on Route 24 leaving the Murray River Area. With the assistance of the public, officers located the vehicle on the Highway 1 in Vernon Bridge.

The driver was taken into custody for operation while impaired. He was taken to the Montague RCMP office where he provided samples almost three times the legal limit.

The driver was later released for a future court date in Charlottetown provincial court and his vehicle was also impounded for 30 days.

In addition, last week, at approximately 2:20 p.m., on Friday, Jan. 31, Stratford RCMP responded to an erratic driving complaint near the roundabout in Stratford.

Police located the vehicle near Mount Albion and the driver, a 35-year-old Vernon River man, was subsequently arrested for impaired driving. He provided samples of his breath which were nearly three times the legal limit. He will appear in court at a later date to answer to the charges.

“There is no good time to drive impaired, ever,” says a release from the RCMP. “But, to see this type of blatant disregard for the safety of themselves and others, is discouraging. Thankfully, many people driving are willing to call and report erratic driving.”