**TIMMINS POLICE SERVICE NEWS RELEASE**

The Timmins Police Service has charged a total of 4 persons with Impaired Operation related charges under the Criminal Code of Canada since the beginning of the year.

The presence of RIDE spot checks and related public safety campaigns appear to be paying dividends in terms of a lower number of persons charged when compared with the same time frame for the years of 2017 and 2018.

From January 1st to March 27, for 2017 a total of 8 persons were charged with Impaired Operation related charges under the Criminal Code of Canada.

From January 1st to March 27, for 2018 a total of 10 persons were charged with Impaired Operation related charges under the Criminal Code of Canada.

The marked decrease for the beginning of 2019 is a cause for guarded optimism at the Timmins Police Service.

Timmins Police Service officers will continue to be vigilant in their patrols of area roadways to scrutinize driving behaviors and, where necessary, perform traffic stops to confirm sobriety.

These measures, in conjunction with ongoing RIDE spot checks, are deemed necessary to enhance roadway safety in the Timmins area.

Traffic safety remains a top priority of the Timmins Police Service

Among the Impaired Operation incidents investigated by the Timmins Police Service thus far this year, a collision occurred on January 10th in the north end of the city.

As a result of the incident, Tim ELLIOTT, 35, of Timmins, was charged with:
– Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
– Operate Motor Vehicle – Over 80 Mgs of Alcohol in 100 Milliliters of Blood contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada

The accused was released from custody and was required to attend Provincial Court to answer to the charges laid against him.

Additional incidents of early 2019 resulting in Criminal Code charges stem from:
– a 63 year old male driver of a pickup truck entering the ditch in the extreme west end of the city on February 3rd
– an erratic driver being located in a pharmacy parking lot on March 1st where a 58 year old female Schumacher resident was eventually arrested
– a 25 year old male driver was arrested upon being discovered unconscious at the pumps of a Timmins gas station.

The Timmins Police Service view these early statistics as encouraging but continue to see the need for improvement.

Traffic Sergeant Tom Chypyha adds “Genuine traffic safety can be enhanced but it is a matter of collaboration between the Timmins Police Service and the driving population in Timmins. Enforcement efforts will continue as expected. The recent addition of a Timmins Police Service officer achieving the designation of Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) will serve to enhance these efforts in a more proficient manner. Recognizing this, it is up to the individual driver to make solid decisions prior to taking the driver’s seat.”

Filed under: Local News