53 impaired drivers taken off the roadway from January - March

From January 1 – to March 31, West Shore RCMP has taken 53 impaired drivers off the roadway. 49 out of 53 drivers have been charged for impaired driving under the Motor Vehicle Act, while impaired driving charges have been recommended against the remaining 4 drivers under the Criminal Code.

That’s a 17% increase from the same time period last year (Jan-March 2023), where 45 impaired drivers were caught and charged.

19 out of the 53 impaired drivers were caught by police in March alone. Of note, there were two impaired driving investigations that took place last week within a 24-hour period that are highlighted below:

On March 27, at approximately 3:45 p.m., West Shore RCMP Frontline and Traffic Unit Officers responded to a report of a two-vehicle head on collision near the 4100 block of Sooke Rd in Metchosin. A 2006 Chrysler 300 crossed the centre line and collided with a 2007 Ford F150 pick up truck. The force of the collision caused the F150 to flip onto its side. Officers observed the driver of the Chrysler 300 to be exhibiting symptoms of alcohol impairment and pursued an impaired driving investigation. Both drivers suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital. Sooke Rd was shut down for a number of hours which significantly impacted drivers. Police are continuing their impaired driving investigation and are awaiting blood test results regarding the blood alcohol level of the driver.

Photo of Collision:

The next morning, on March 28, at approximately 6:39 a.m., West Shore RCMP received multiple calls from concerned citizens regarding a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado pickup that was observed swerving in a out of lanes. Frontline Officers attended the area and located the pickup truck on Jacklin Rd near Langford Parkway in Langford. The driver, identified as a 53-year-old male, was exhibiting signs of alcohol impairment. Police also located approximately 14 grams of Cannabis in the vehicle within reach of the driver. Police pursued an impaired driving investigation. The driver provided samples of his breath which indicated he was approximately twice the legal limit of alcohol allowed in the blood. An impaired driving charge has been recommended against the driver along with a 90-day driving prohibition, his vehicle was towed and a violation ticket for operating a vehicle with Cannabis in it ($230 fine), was also issued.

West Shore RCMP is committed to keeping our roadways safe. We want to thank the numerous citizens who have called police to report suspected impaired drivers. Calling police right away increases our chances of locating and stopping suspected impaired drivers, said, Cpl. Nancy Saggar, West Shore RCMP Media Relations Officer.