NEWS RELEASE
SOUTH SIMCOE POLICE
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Over the Victoria Day long weekend, the South Simcoe Police Service responded to a significant number of incidents related to public safety across our communities. From Friday afternoon until midnight on Monday, the police service responded to the following:
• Calls for Service: A total of 288 calls for service were received and investigated
• Traffic Enforcement: Officers issued 51 tickets for various traffic offences
• Impaired Driving Incidents: Seven impaired driving incidents resulted in 10 criminal code charges. In addition to these incidents, a Class G2 license holder was found to have a blood alcohol concentration above zero, leading to further both fines and a suspension
• Criminal Code Charges: In addition to the impaired driving charges, officers laid nine criminal code charges related to assaults, breaches, and mischief
• Marine Patrol: Our Marine unit was actively monitoring the waterways. A total of three charges were laid on the water during the busy weekend
A significant uptick in impaired driving incidents was observed over the weekend. The South Simcoe Police remind motorists that impaired driving will not be tolerated in our community.
In Ontario, the penalties for impaired driving are severe and include immediate license suspension, vehicle impoundment, fines, and potential imprisonment. For a first offense, drivers face a license suspension of at least 90 days, a fine, and mandatory participation in an education or treatment program. Repeat offenders encounter harsher penalties, including longer suspensions, higher fines, mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device, and potential jail time. Additionally, convicted drivers will have a criminal record, which can impact their employment, travel, and insurance rates.
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