Guelph Police Launching Holiday R.I.D.E. Program

Now as much a staple of the holiday season as egg nog and office Christmas parties, local law enforcement officers and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) have begun the annual Festive R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) Campaign. It should go without saying at this point that if you drink, don't drive, but just in case....

Here's the press release from Guelph Police Service:

Wellington County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) along with the Guelph Police Service (GPS) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving Wellington County (MADD) officially launched the “2015 local Festive R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) Campaign” on November 25, 2015. The local County of Wellington and City of Guelph campaign aligns with the annual Provincial Festive RIDE initiative in which all police services participate.

The R.I.D.E. program took place in front of the Centre Wellington OPP Operations Centre on Wellington Road 18, Aboyne, around 4 p.m. Within the first hour approximately 200 vehicles had been checked. There were four roadside breath tests conducted, five charges for having open alcohol in a vehicle, three charges for possession of drugs, and one-three day suspension of a drivers licence for having consumed too much alcohol to operate a motor vehicle. The results show the need for R.I.D.E. programs to continue at all hours, both day and night.

“A sixty minute R.I.D.E. program has once again demonstrated that some drivers still do not seem to understand the message. It is very clear that drinking and driving has no place on our roads and there is no tolerance both socially and by law enforcement partners for this unacceptable behaviour.” said Wellington County OPP Detachment Commander Inspector Scott Lawson. "

Guelph Police Service Chief Jeff DeRuyter said “We are pleased that we can strategically work with the O.P.P. to reduce drinking and driving during this holiday season. However, we would like to encourage everyone to drink responsibly throughout the year.”

The Wellington County OPP Festive R.I.D.E. Campaign runs through to January 16, 2016.

Do your part and be smart. Don’t Drink and Drive.

Wellington Country OPP and the Guelph Police Service are always proud to work with and for our communities to keep everyone safe, especially through the Holiday season.