Press Release - FESTIVE SEASON R.I.D.E. KICK-OFF 2007

On Tuesday, November 27, 2007, media is invited to join York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge, the HonourableJim Bradley, Minister of Transportation, CITY TV and Breakfast Television host Kevin Frankish, representatives from the York Region chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), co-presidents of Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving (OSAID) from Cardinal Carter Catholic High School and Karen Toon, of Allstate Insurance Red Ribbon Campaign, for the launch of our 2007 Festive R.I.D.E. season.

This year’s Festive R.I.D.E. program is dedicated to the memory of Ion Mihaila who lost his life after he was struck andkilled by an impaired driver in the Township of King on November 27, 2004. Members of Mr. Mihaila’s family will also attend the ceremony.

For the month of December, the R.I.D.E. program will target drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs during the holiday season. York Regional Police runs the R.I.D.E. Program year-round, enhancing it during holidays and special events.

Our citizens continue to be strong allies in the fight against impaired driving since the launch of the Safe Roads…Your Call in June urging residents to call 9-1-1 immediately if they see a suspected impaired driver.

Traffic safety is everyone’s responsibility and citizens are reminded their call may save a life or prevent serious injury. Impaired driving is a crime inprogress and as such, warrants a 9-1-1 call.

In addition, York Regional Police is a leader in training officers as Drug Recognition Experts. A York Regional Police officer is currently seconded to the RCMP as the training facilitator for the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Program, which trains officers across the province to identify drug-related impairment. DRE officers will also be in attendance at the event.

In 2006, the Festive Season R.I.D.E. program resulted in 30 impaired related charges and five impaired by drug charges.

In 2007 to date, there have been 932 impaired-related arrests and 33 impaired-by-drug arrests. To date this year, three people have been killed in collisions where alcohol was a contributing factor.

The launch will take place at 10 a.m., at Cardinal Golf Club, located at 2740 Highway 9 (between Jane Street and Dufferin Street) in King Township.
A live spotcheck will be set up on Highway 9, giving the media an opportunity to see
the York Regional Police state-of-the-art R.I.D.E. truck in action.

The message is clear: DON’T DRINK and DRIVE.