Red Deer RCMP charged three motorists with impaired driving and gave out six driving suspensions for drugs or alcohol on the August long weekend.
Driving suspensions included two 24-hour suspensions related to drugs and one for alcohol; one 30-day suspension for alcohol to a motorist with a graduated driver’s licence; and two 72-hour suspensions for alcohol.
Each month this year, the Office of Traffic Safety with Alberta Transportation focuses on specific traffic infractions and safety issues — impaired driving is the focus for August.
“The police receive dozens of calls each week from Red Deerians reporting suspected impaired drivers,” said Red Deer RCMP Cpl. Matt LaBelle.
“Impaired driving takes a toll on the entire community and people in Red Deer no longer tolerate it. If you drive impaired, you’re going to get caught.”
A total of 11 charges were laid under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act at the weekend checkstops.
LaBelle said officers found marijuana, hashish and LSD and one person was facing five drug trafficking charges.
RCMP ran checkstops at two locations on Friday and Saturday and checked about 760 vehicles.
Other charges or violations included:
l One charge for driving while suspended.
l Two seatbelt violations.
l Four equipment violations (obscured licence plate, tinted windows).
l Four Gaming and Liquor Act violations.
l One Criminal Code charge.
l Thirty-six other provincial charges.
LaBelle said checkstops are also planned for the Labour Day long weekend.
In addition to checkstops, Red Deer RCMP say they actively patrol for driving violations on every shift using marked and unmarked police vehicles.