R.I.D.E. Check Police Taking New Approach
Posted December 29, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
At the time of year people are most likely to drink and drive, police all over the GTA are changing strategies to try to make sure they don’t.
In fact, a shift in strategy has led officers in some jurisdictions to even more drink drivers, even though less are actually being stopped.
Peel Police, for example, are employing what’s known as a “last drink” program, in which they target local bars. And in Durham Region police have set up roving check points in areas drivers aren’t used to seeing R.I.D.E. checks. Toronto Police have a few tricks up their proverbial sleeves as well.
“We’re going to be on the smaller roads trying to catch those people that want to take that secret route home,” said Mig Roberts with Toronto Police Traffic Services. “And we’ve had some success.”
It’s news that comes far too late for people like Carolyn Swinson, a woman who suffered double the loss when her father and son were killed by drunk drivers in two separate crashes.
“They died because people made the wrong choices,” she said. “There are still way too many people out there who are taking that risk of drinking and getting behind the wheel of a car.”
Ontario’s holiday R.I.D.E. check program ends January 1.
To see Andrea Piunno‘s story on the R.I.D.E. program, click on the video link.
