Impaired drivers still causing problems on the roads — RCMP
By Lone Sheep Publishing
Grand Forks RCMP said the first of three impaired drivers taken off the road by local police happened on Wednesday evening, March 1, 2023 just after 7 p.m.
Mounties were called to a report of an accident on the 11500 block of Highway 3 where they found a 48-year-old man from Chilliwack behind the wheel of his vehicle off the highway, down a small hill and resting in a snow drift.
The driver was arrested for Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle and brought back to the Grand Forks RCMP Detachment where samples of breath was taken.
RCMP said the driver provided a sample of 50 mg/100 ml, which is below the legal limit of 80 mg/ 100 ml. The driver was issued a 24 hour driving prohibition.
RCMP said impaired driver No. 2 call happened 1:15 a.m., early Saturday morning on March 4, 2023.
Police said an officer on patrol stopped a motor vehicle on Central Avenue and Boundary Drive in Grand Forks.
The driver stated that he had just picked his friends up from the bar and that he had not consumed any alcohol, however, the officer had his doubts.
The driver, a 42-year-old man from Grand Forks provided a sample of his breath roadside which showed he did in fact have alcohol in his system.
The driver blew a ‘Fail’ meaning they had at least 100 mg/ 100 ml in their system, well over the legal limit. The driver was given a 90-day suspension of their driver’s license and had their vehicle impounded for 30 days.
Number three driver call occurred later on March 4, 2023 at 5:10 p.m.
Police said an officer on patrol was flagged down and informed of an accident where a vehicle struck a ditch and then pulled into a gas station on the 2770 block of Central Avenue.
The officer approached the vehicle and found the driver still sitting in his car with the engine running.
The driver, a 19-year-old man from Grand Forks showed signs of alcohol impairment, and was requested to provide samples of his breath roadside. The results were a ‘Fail’ and the driver was given a 90-day suspension of their driver’s license and had their vehicle impounded for 30 days. In addition, as the driver was a ‘New Driver’, he was also given a violation ticket for driving contrary to their restrictions.
Detachment Commander Sergeant Darryl Peppler said it is still very disappointing the amount of impaired drivers we are finding.
“Hopefully nothing serious has to happen before people start to get the message.”
Vehicle rollover
On March 2, 2023 at 4:30 p.m., Grand Forks officers attended to a report of a single vehicle rollover at Phoenix Rd and Highway 3, west of Grand Forks.
Upon arrival, BC Ambulance and Grand Forks Fire were also on scene, however the driver of the vehicle was not. At the time of the accident, the roads were very icy. The driver departed the scene prior to Emergency Services arriving.
This matter is still under investigation.
