National

'Concerning' number of impaired drivers arrested in roads in Saanich, B.C.: police

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Sep, 2024 04:33 PM

Police on southern Vancouver Island say they’ve arrested almost as many impaired drivers in the first eight months of this year than they did in 2023 in a concerning trend of people getting behind the wheel while drunk or on drugs.

Statistics released by Saanich police show that officers stopped 464 impaired drivers up until the end of August compared with 468 arrests for the same problem in all 12 months of last year.

Police say almost a third of those arrests this year happened in July and August.

Chief Const. Dean Duthie says it's concerning that drivers continue to get behind the wheel while impaired and endanger not only their own lives, but the lives of everyone else in the community.

He says the department will continue to invest resources into stopping this "selfish behaviour."

Of those arrested, 65 lost their licence for 90 days, six were impaired by drugs and seven drivers were already on an interlock program, where a device in their vehicle is supposed to prevent them from using it if they have alcohol in their body.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Taxi driver suspected in fatal B.C. hit-and-run has left Canada: RCMP

Mounties in Terrace say they have identified the suspect in a fatal hit-and-run crash over the weekend as a driver for a local taxi company who has since left the country. Police say they were called to an intersection in the central B.C. city early Sunday where they found a man on the road with injuries consistent with being hit by a vehicle.

Taxi driver suspected in fatal B.C. hit-and-run has left Canada: RCMP

B.C. family doctors call for sick days, pensions ahead of October election

Organizations representing family doctors in British Columbia say physicians need paid sick days, vacation coverage, extended health and dental benefits and a pension plan. The BC College of Family Physicians and BC Family Doctors published a series of requests for whoever forms the next government after this October's provincial election.

B.C. family doctors call for sick days, pensions ahead of October election

PM, senior security officials slated to return to foreign interference inquiry

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of his inner circle are slated to return to a federal inquiry into foreign interference in coming weeks. A newly published provisional witness list for the next phase of the inquiry's public work indicates senior government bureaucrats and members of national security agencies will also testify.

PM, senior security officials slated to return to foreign interference inquiry

Top adviser says Singh not anxious to launch election, Conservatives issue challenge

Jagmeet Singh's top adviser says the NDP leader is not particularly eager to trigger an election, even as the Conservatives challenge him to do just that. Anne McGrath, Singh's principal secretary, says there will be more volatility in Parliament and the odds of an early election have risen.

Top adviser says Singh not anxious to launch election, Conservatives issue challenge

Most of Canada is predicted to have a warmer-than-normal fall: The Weather Network

Don't put away your summer wardrobe just yet – The Weather Network says most Canadians are in for a warm fall. The network predicts that the majority of Canadians will see a slow transition into autumn as temperatures in most regions are expected to be above normal in the coming weeks.

Most of Canada is predicted to have a warmer-than-normal fall: The Weather Network

Trudeau says he 'can't wait' to get into it with Poilievre in Parliament

The three-day Liberal caucus retreat in Nanaimo, B.C., was the first chance for Trudeau to address his MPs as a group since they lost a long-held Liberal riding in Toronto to the Conservatives. The loss led to a fractious summer, and the focus of the gathering has been to reunite the party and turn their focus to the Tories.