YORK POLICE HAVE LAID 90 CHARGES FOR BEING IMPAIRED BY DRUGS

Since July, federal legislation allows police to demand blood or
urine samples from drivers they suspect are impaired by drugs, and
lay charges if they don't comply.

York Regional Police have been piling up the numbers in that regard.

They have been a Canadian leader in the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE)
Program and since its start in 2004, officers have laid more than 90
charges for drug-related impaired driving.

York's was the first police service in Ontario to train officers as
DREs and currently has 24 of them, five of whom are qualified DRE instructors.

In addition, Sergeant Rob Martin is currently seconded to the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police, acting as the Ontario coordinator for the
DRE program, training officers from police services across the
province in identifying drug-related impairment.

Since the DRE program began, trained officers have conducted more
than 130 drug evaluations on motorists and laid 90 impaired operation
by drug charges.

Motorists are reminded that while the RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving
Everywhere) program is enhanced for long weekends and holidays, it
runs yearround in York.

In addition, police report citizens continue to be strong allies in
the fight against impaired driving since the launch of the Safe Roads
. . . Your Call in June, 2007, urging residents to call 9-1-1
immediately if they see a suspected impaired driver.