Four individuals are being investigated for impaired operation of a vehicle by the Yellowknife RCMP, all of which occurred on the same day, January 23rd.
This comes less than a month since the holiday campaign “Operation Gingerbread” which had the goal of educating drivers on the dangers of driving impaired.
At approximately 12:30 a.m. on the 23rd, a call for service regarding a traffic complaint came in to the RCMP. Yellowknife RCMP began an investigation, which is ongoing, but impaired driving is noted as a potential cause for the call.
Shortly after, at approximately 1:30 am on the same morning, Yellowknife RCMP observed a man in the driver’s seat of a vehicle that was running with keys in the ignition. RCMP began an investigation and charges are being sworn.
A 45-year-old man is facing two charges of:
- Operation while impaired of motor vehicle
- Operation while impaired over 80 mg% of motor vehicle.
Mid-morning, at approximately 10:50 a.m., police received a complaint of a possible abandoned vehicle. When RCMP attended the location given, a gas station in downtown Yellowknife, the vehicle had been removed.
Further investigation linked the vehicle to a single vehicle collision the evening before. Eventually, RCMP were able to locate the female driver.
A 20-year-old woman, of Yellowknife, is facing several Criminal Code and Motor Vehicle Act charges and fines:
- Operation while impaired of motor vehicle
- Dangerous operation of motor vehicle
- Failure to stop after accident
- Operate vehicle without valid registration $230
- Operate vehicle without valid driver’s license $345
- Operate vehicle without valid certificate of financial responsibility $1955
At approximately 2:15 pm that afternoon, RCMP conducted a traffic stop. The driver was found to have consumed alcohol and was brought to the detachment.
A 38 year old man from Yellowknife, is facing charges of:
- Operation while impaired of motor vehicle
- Operation while impaired over 80 mg% of motor vehicle
RCMP is reminding residents that anytime there’s a charge of ‘Operation while impaired of motor vehicle’, there is an automatic 24 hour/90 day suspension of driver license.
“Unfortunately, operating a motor vehicle while impaired continues to be a regularly occurring crime in our city, and we are urging people to reconsider getting behind the wheel. Impaired driving is avoidable, simply choose another way to get home safely” states Inspector Dyson Smith, Officer in Charge Yellowknife Detachment.
If you see a suspected impaired driver or suspicious activity, call your local RCMP detachment, for Yellowknife 669-1111.
