East Ontario Festive RIDE programs nab 150 impaired drivers

Ontario Provincial Police charged 150 motorists with impaired driving during the 2025-26 Festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign in eastern Ontario.

In a breakdown by detachment, OPP says 13 impaired drivers were charged by the Ottawa detachment, 22 in Russell County, eight in Renfrew, nine in Grenville and seven in Lanark.

The release noted that preliminary results show that “East Region OPP officers conducted more than 1,600 RIDE programs” between Nov. 20 and Jan. 1.

Each of the drivers who were arrested for impaired operation had their licence suspended for 90 days, and their vehicle was impounded for seven days, plus they each have a scheduled court appearance.

Officers also issued 28 licence suspensions for drivers who were found to be in the warn range on an approved roadside alcohol screening device.

OPP East Region spokesperson Bill Dickson noted that a “RIDE program could be a couple of officers, or it could be a larger event. They can be a major, planned event or it could be done between responding to other types of calls.”

OPP also noted that new regulations came into effect in the New Year that are expected to lead to increased licence suspensions and other measures aimed at reducing impaired driving.

Among the new Highway Traffic Act regulations dealing with impaired driving and other offences

• Lifetime driver’s licence suspension upon conviction for impaired driving causing death

• Mandatory remedial education for first-time alcohol and/or drug-related administrative occurrences

• Longer roadside licence suspensions for first- and second-time alcohol/drug-related occurrences

• Mandatory minimum licence suspensions on conviction of stunt driving are automatically applied rather than being court-ordered

“While the Festive RIDE campaign has wrapped up for the season, RIDE programs will continue,” the force notes.

“They can happen anywhere, day or night, seven days a week, along major highways, rural roads or downtown streets.”

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