Impaired driving on the rise in the Timmins-area
Timmins police officials say have noticed a significant increase in the number of motorists getting behind the wheel drunk or high.
The Timmins Police Service has charged more than 16 drivers with impaired driving since January, up from 13 this time last year and 11 in 2021. disturbing trend it's disturbed with a trend it is noticing...an increase in the number of motorists who are getting behind their wheels, drunk or high.
“More and more people are being changed with impaired driving linked to the uses of what were at one time illegal substances,” said the police service’s corporate communication coordinator, Marc Depatie.
“Regardless of the nature of the substance, if it deters or alters your ability to drive a car safely, that’s where it meets the threshold of a criminal act.”
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Depatie told CTV News that both men and women ranging from 22 to 55-years-old have recently been charged and are now before the courts.
Police officials said that in one instance a woman was found unconscious at the wheel at a local address.
“In a number of circumstances drivers were operating in night time conditions without their headlights on so it isn’t as though all of these situations call for a particularly careful officer sometimes the impairment is so obvious, anyone would notice it,” said Depatie.
Police said any time anyone sees a driver who may be impaired, call 9-1-1 immediately and police will investigate; police have specially trained officers at the ready to determine if a driver is high or drunk.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Notorious serial killer Paul Bernardo moved to medium-security prison in Quebec
Notorious serial rapist and killer Paul Bernardo was moved to a medium-security prison in Quebec this week.

Special rapporteur David Johnston’s office hired crisis communications firm Navigator
Special rapporteur David Johnston has hired crisis communications firm Navigator, his office confirmed on Friday.
Here's what Nova Scotia's wildfires look like from outer space
Photos released by NASA taken from International Space Station show the immense scale of the wildfires in Nova Scotia, with billowing smoke engulfing the landscape.
Air Canada should face more consequences after two disruptions in a week, consumer advocate says
An airline consumer advocate says Air Canada should face tougher consequences for stranding passengers after two disruptions in a week.
Canada's 'unprecedented' fire season linked to climate change, will be the new normal: scientists
At the moment, wildfires are burning across six provinces and one territory in Canada — and they’re still spreading in what’s being called an unprecedented fire season. While firefighters work tirelessly to battle the merciless flames and prevent further destruction, scientists say the wildfires are linked to climate change and that this will be the new normal.
'Utterly disgusting': Canadian Army sergeant fined for 'anti-Jewish' comments
A 38-year-old sergeant in the Canadian Army was fined $3,000 and issued a severe reprimand after he made what a military judge described as 'utterly disgusting' anti-Jewish comments while conducting an infantry training course in 2021.
Experts warn of 'rapid' growth of IBD as number of Canadians diagnosed set to reach 470K by 2035
The number of people in Canada with inflammatory bowel disease is increasing rapidly and is expected to grow to 470,000 by 2035, according to a new report from Crohn's and Colitis Canada.
'Many, many lives turned upside down' by wildfires: N.S. premier
Nova Scotia’s premier says the “historic” wildfires in the province have caused a “breath-taking amount of damage.”
Trudeau raises Poland's democratic backsliding as prime minister visits Toronto
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he raised concerns about reports that LGBTQ2S+ rights and democracy are under threat in Poland during a Friday visit with its prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, in Toronto.