Kelowna cops see big increase in impaired driving in December

Kelowna RCMP removed 60 impaired drivers from the city's roads last December.

According to a Jan. 21 Kelowna RCMP media release, Operation CounterAttack saw a 54 per cent increase in the number of impaired drivers taken off the road compared to December 2020.

In 2020, Kelowna RCMP's Operation CounterAttack saw 39 impaired drivers removed from the road and officers performed two evaluations on drivers impaired by drugs.

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The number of Drug Recognition Expert evaluations jumped to 14 in December 2021.

"On average, a (Drug Recognition Expert) officer will perform approximately three evaluations per year," Kelowna RCMP Sgt. Mark Booth said in the release. "The fact that our officers performed 14 tests during the month of December, indicates more drivers are using illegal or prescription drugs and getting behind the wheel."

RCMP said charges are pending against the 14 drivers allegedly impaired by drugs and are waiting for results from the RCMP forensics lab.

The impaired drivers removed from the roads failed roadside breathalyzer tests and either received a three-day suspension, a 90-day suspension both under the Motor Vehicle Act, or more seriously, a 90-day suspension including charges under the Criminal Code.

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