It took just a day, but the first Windsor police R.I.D.E. deployment since legalization of marijuana in Canada resulted in cannabis-related charges.
As part of their regular campaign to Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere, officers set up traffic stops at two different locations in Windsor on Thursday night. Over the course of a couple of hours, more than 800 vehicles were stopped and inspected.
One adult male driver was charged with operating a motor vehicle while having cannabis readily available. He was issued a provincial offence notice involving a $215 fine.
“That’s under the Cannabis Act,” said Windsor police spokesman Sgt. Steve Betteridge, referring to a new federal law that came into effect Oct. 17. “A good way to think of it is similar to the rules for alcohol. If it’s within reach of the driver, it is readily available. If it’s open (container) — not in a sealed package — it’s readily available.”
Another adult male driver showed signs of suspected impairment by cannabis. Police said he performed poorly on the standard field sobriety test and drug recognition evaluation.
The driver was arrested and charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle. He has been scheduled for a future court date.
Earlier this week, Windsor police released a video showing elements of the sobriety test and evaluation process — such as the horizontal gaze test, which requires the subject to follow an object with his or her eyes; the “walk and turn” test, which requires the subject to step along a narrow line; and the one-leg stand test, which requires the subject to balance on one foot while counting out loud.
Windsor police conduct traffic stops as part of a R.I.D.E. program on the night of Oct. 18, 2018.
Betteridge pointed out that impaired driving is not a new crime, and Windsor police have long been committed to enforcing against it, whether the impairment is by drugs or alcohol or any combination thereof.
“What is new is the legalization of cannabis,” Betteridge said. “Nobody has a crystal ball. Nobody knows if our impaired driving charges in the future will go up or not. We’re hoping not. But we are prepared to enforce the law and keep our roadways safe.”
During Thursday’s R.I.D.E. stops, another driver received a three-day licence suspension for having blood alcohol content exceeding 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres.
In all, the Windsor police traffic enforcement unit performed 38 enforcement actions during the R.I.D.E. deployment and later the same night.
Windsor police remind the community that cannabis legalization is “an adjustment for our entire country.”
Members of the public who observe a driver suspected of being impaired are encouraged to call 911 and be ready to provide relevant information, such as licence plate, vehicle make or model, and last direction of travel.