Despite new penalties connected to drunk driving enacted in 2012, Calgary Police say impaired driving charges remained the same during the holiday season compared to other years.
In December 2012, officers laid 99 charges for impaired driving over .08 and another 122 charges for impaired driving (alcohol).
They also slapped 39 drivers with charges for failing to provide a breath sample and 60 immediate roadside sanctions were issued.
“With the introduction of the new administrative penalties for impaired driving in 2012, there was a lot of discussion in the community about impaired driving and its consequences,” says Staff Sgt. Michael Watterston of the CPS Traffic Section. “We hope that level of awareness will continue, and that we’ll see charges and suspensions decline over the next year.”
The Calgary Police is the only police service to run a year-round Check Stop program.
They say about 23 percent of the charges in December were laid during the daytime or evening programs.
Police also say that 34 people were killed in 32 fatal crashes in 2012, 15 of which involved alcohol.
