Two people were charged with impaired driving this weekend, according to Timmins Police.
Since the Festive RIDE program launched earlier this month, a total of five people have been charged with impaired driving.
Timmins Police corporate communications coordinator Marc Depatie said a 46-year-old man was found slumped over the wheel of his vehicle in a parking lot off of Waterloo Road on Friday afternoon.
The man was "arrested based on the observations of the responding officer" and brought to the station, where testing was done with a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). Depatie said the man failed, was charged and released. The court date is pending.
In a second incident, Depatie said a 40-year-old woman was involved in a single-vehicle crash where an SUV rolled over on the lawn of a Roblin Street home.
The driver was injured and "fled to a neighbouring back yard." Depatie said she was located, and treated for a cut to her forehead by paramedics. She was arrested and police say the breath test results were over 80 mgs/100 mls of blood. She was charged. The court date is pending.
Last week, Timmins Police Chief John Gauthier expressed his concern about the recent impaired driving trend.
“Some people continue to use bad judgment when drinking alcohol. I can assure you that we will continue to monitor the motoring public during the holidays. We will initiate random RIDE programs or spot checks and anyone found in contravention of the impaired driving laws will be arrested and charged accordingly,” Gauthier said during a COVID-19 update for the city.
The annual Festive RIDE program launched earlier this month. It runs until Jan. 3, 2021.
