A RIDE check on Highway 401 at Colborne yielded a number of charges including one person who was charged impaired driving (by drug).
Two Northumberland OPP officers conducted the RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) at the eastbound off-ramp of Highway 401 at Colborne on Monday, June 15, 2020.
Officer were set-up starting shortly after 1 p.m. until approximately 3 p.m.
In that time, several drivers were charged with not wearing seatbelts. One driver was given a warning for cannabis available to driver and another driver warned for insecure load.
A woman from Picton was also arrested and charged for impaired driving by drug.
Shortly before 2 p.m. OPP were alerted by a motorist of a possible impaired driver, driving eastbound from Bowmanville.
A concerned driver had just got on at Bowmanville and was headed towards Cobourg when she noticed the vehicle ahead of her weaving.
“She went from the middle lane, swerved all the way passed the slow lane and almost hit a pylon and then almost hit a giant construction sign and continued.”
The caller told Today’s Northumberland the vehicle was “swerving the whole way.”
With the vehicle swerving, the woman called 9-1-1 to report the driver to police.
Even though the caller was only going to Cobourg, she felt it was important enough to continue following the vehicle to keep police updated.
“I had to follow her. I had to make sure she wasn’t going to hurt anybody because I wouldn’t forgive myself.”
One officer immediately set up on the on-ramp of Highway 401 eastbound in case the vehicle drove past, while the other officer stayed on the off-ramp in case it exited.
The caller stayed in contact with OPP dispatch while following the vehicle at a safe distance along Highway 401.
The car exited at Colborne, where one officer pulled the vehicle over and conducted a Standard Field Sobriety Testing (SFST).
The woman failed the test and was arrested and placed into custody for impaired operation by drug.
She was taken to Brighton OPP detachment for a drug recognition evaluation with a drug recognition expert and charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle by drug.
The vehicle will be impounded for seven days and her driver’s license will be suspended for 90 days.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
