By CHAT News Today

More checkstops to take place this month

Dec 4, 2017 | 4:13 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — More checkstops are coming this month, according to the Medicine Hat Police Service.

The service, which wrapped up its first checkstops this weekend, is focusing on impaired driving for the month of December, and says both large-scale checkstops, like the one this weekend, are in the forecast, while smaller-scale checkstops will also take place.

“All patrol officers and traffic officers that are working the street, on their down time, it’s expected that they’re going to be out conducting these checkstops during their evening and night shifts,” said Sgt. Clarke White with the police service’s traffic unit.

During the stops, which took place in multiple areas of the city, police checked 1,389 vehicles. Two drivers were charged with impaired driving and exceeding 0.08. One of those drivers was also charged with careless storage of a firearm, after being found with a loaded firearm during his arrest.

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One other driver was issued a three-day licence suspension for driving with a blood alcohol level between 0.05 and 0.08, and another driver was charged with driving with an inactive license.

Police also issued 12 warnings for vehicle equipment violations, while another three were issued for Liquor Act violations.

White says checkstops remain the most effective way for police to crack down on impaired driving in Medicine Hat.

“We’re checking 100 per cent of vehicles going through that major roadway,” he said. “If you’re consuming alcohol, we’re going to know if it pretty quickly, based on our training and observation. It really is the best way to interact with a large amount of people in a short amount of time.”