4 ~ Sunday, December 26, 1993 - North Shore News

CounterAtt

Annual Christmas campaign proves a success 45 Impaired

WHILE CHRISTMAS CounterAttack impaired driving charges have already surpassed those of last year in) Van- couver, most North Vancouver drivers have heard the message that it is wrong to drink and drive.

North Vancouver RCMP Const. Barry Hicks said that most people stopped by the police in North Vancouver during the annual Christmas CounterAttack . cam- paign have either not been drink- ing, have had a very small amount to drink or have assigned # desig-

By Surj Rattan News Reporter

nated driver.

This year's Christmas CounterAtiack campaign began on Dec. 8. It will end on Monday,

z 33 ; NEWS photos Mike Waketiold

4 .

- BEING FINGER printed is all part of the process of being arrested :

when police pull over suspected drinking drivers.

etting

Jan. 3.

Since Monday of this week. North Vancouver RCMP have:

@ charged six people with) il paired driving singe the bepianing of the annual Chrismas CounterAttack campaign; © issued 25, 24-hour suspensions;

® recorded 37 incidents of prop’ erty damage caused by vehicles: @ attended to 13 motor vehicle accidents,

Hicks, a member of the local RCMP traffic section, said none of the motor vehicle injuries were a result of drinking and driving.

“We have not had a lot (im- paired drivers) so far this Christmas season. /

“There has been some tight drinking going on, but the major ity of those intoxicated have had 4 designated driver. sas

“There’s a lot more responsible people out there,"’ said Hicks.

He believes that the number of drinking and driving offences are down this Christmas season because pcople’s attitudes towards impaired driving have changed.

Hicks said people are listening to the message of the province's CounterAttack program: it is 1°

roadside

UVER RCMP Const. Barry Hicks administers a breathalyzer test.

iessage across

longer acceptable to drink and drive.

“des not funny to drink and drive anymore and people know that,’ said Hicks,

The North Vancouver RCMP are setting up their roadblocks at an earlier hour in the evenings. The strategy can act as a deterrent to drinking and driving. Drivers On their way to Christmas parties will know that the police will be waiting for them on the return trip home.

As a result, said Hicks, most drjvers decide not to drink and drive.

“Usually, impaired drivers try to minimize what they've done. They: might say they’ve only had One or two drinks, but as they become more impaired, they lose count,’’ said Hicks.

He added that it is up to the in- dividual police officer's discretion if someone will either be charged with impaired driving or be

driving charges drop

handed a 24-hour roadside suspension,

Alcohol odors, slurred specel, bleod-shot and watery eyes and inoior vehicle skills are just some of the things police will look for when checking drivers in roud- blocks.

Hicks said the North Vancouver RCMP also use the hand-held breathalyzers, even though the portable machines, which are designed to record blood alcohol levels, are the subject of con- troversy.

Two B.C. Supreme Court deci- sions were issued regarding the breathalyzers. The first court rul- ing said police must administer the breathalyzer as soon as possible,

But a second court decision ruled that the police must wait 15 minutes before administering the breathalyzers.

The North Vancouver RCMP,

See Testing page §

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