Saturday night checkpoint kicks off busy month of activity

Saturday night's second-largest crowd after the Calgary Flames game may have been a police checkstop at 130 Avenue and Tsuu'tina Trail.
Over 40 Calgary police, RCMP officers from across southern Alberta, sheriffs and officers from Tsuu'tina Nation staged a large-scale checkpoint.
The police checked for drivers who may have been under the influence of alcohol, or otherwise impaired.
"We have approximately 43 officers here," said Sgt. Brad Norman of the Calgary police.
"We do have drug recognition experts, as well as multiple officers here are trained in standard field sobriety testing," added Norman. "So we have been testing what is suspected as drug impaired drivers (as well)."
Sgt. Brad Norman, Calgary Police Force
And while Norman acknowledged that December is a time of year when it's important to remind people of the need to drive sober, he said the message has no expiry date.
"We always say 'this time of year', but I think it's 365 days a year that people have got to realize they can't drive under the influence," he said. "We've had too many collisions regarding impaired drivers and people passing away as a result of that. For instance, we did have one earlier this week on Deerfoot Trail."
A 29-year-old Red Deer man was charged following a fatal collision Friday morning.
At the point of the evening where he did the interview with CTV News, Norman said six vehicles had already been towed "due to immediate roadside sanctions, from an IRS novice right up to an IRS fail."
Norman said police will be staging checkpoints throughout the city all month long.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
WHO decision on COVID-19 emergency won't effect Canada's response: Tam
The World Health Organization will announce Monday whether it thinks COVID-19 still represents a global health emergency but Canada's top doctor says regardless of what the international body decides, Canada's response to the coronavirus will not change.

What is going on with Bill C-11, the government's online streaming legislation?
The Liberals have spent years trying to pass online streaming legislation and now the current iteration, known as Bill C-11, is closer than ever to passing. With a potential parliamentary showdown ahead, here's what you need to know about how the contentious Broadcasting Act bill got to this stage.
Zellers rolling out food trucks for Canadians 'craving a taste of nostalgia'
Though you won't be able to sit on the old, cracked pleather benches and take in the thick smell of gravy and fries, while the gentle sound of clanging dishes provides the soundtrack for your lunch, Zellers plans to roll out food trucks for those 'craving a taste of nostalgia.'
'We must meet this moment': Trudeau delivers speech to Liberal caucus
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called on his Liberal caucus to meet the moment as Canadians deal with the high cost of living, a struggling health care system and the effects of climate change.
Pamela Anderson defends Tim Allen after flashing allegation
Pamela Anderson is addressing discussion about a story regarding her 'Home Improvement' co-star Tim Allen that is part of her new memoir, 'Love Pamela.'
What should Canada be doing about climate change? 25 recommendations
The national Net-Zero Advisory Body released 25 recommendations Friday for how Canada can adjust its climate plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 — a goal that the country is not on track to reach right now, according to the report.
Canadian government posts $3.6 billion deficit between April and November
The federal government posted a budgetary deficit of $3.6 billion in the first eight months of the fiscal year.
Bear on Mars? NASA satellite snaps a strange formation
What looks like a giant teddy bear’s face peering into space from the surface of Mars is actually a satellite image of some craters and a circular fracture, scientists say.
Some U.S. auto insurers are refusing to cover some Hyundai and Kia models
Progressive and State Farm, two of America's largest auto insurers, are refusing to write policies in certain cities for some older Hyundai and Kia models that have been deemed too easy to steal, according to one of the insurance companies and media reports.