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‘Tis the season for impaired driving enforcement

Ten impaired drivers taken off the road
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Police will be out in full force this holiday season to take impaired drivers off the road. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Police officers from the Cowichan Valley were out in full force in the evening and early morning hours of Nov. 22 and 23.

North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP frontline officers, traffic enforcement officers and a member from the Integrated Road Safety Unit based out of Nanaimo took 10 impaired drivers off the road.

These consisted of five three-day immediate road side prohibitions, three 90-day IRPs, a 24-hour driving prohibition and a Criminal Code drug impaired investigation.

Along with the impaired enforcement, members served nine violation tickets for various driving offences under the BC Motor Vehicle Act and located two people who were prohibited from driving.

“These police officers are dedicated to keeping their communities safe,” noted Pam Bolton of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP. “More than half of impaired-related crashes occur on the weekend, thankfully 10 or more lives were saved in the Cowichan Valley with the enforcement from our officers.”

This year’s annual Light up the Highway project is set to hit Vancouver Island on Dec. 6, added Bolton.

“This campaign will have officers out targeting drivers in an effort to promote education and prevent impaired driving. There is no excuse to drink and drive. If you plan to drink, leave your car at home.”