The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

25| The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,A pril 5,2018 theifp.ca Information, prices and specifications subject to change without notice. Renderings are artist's concept. Map not to scale. E.&.O.E. REMINGTONHOMES .COM MORE SPACE . MORE LUXURY. MORE VALUE . At Hello Georgetown your new home gives you more. More space. More luxury. More value. This exceptional neighbourhood of prestigious homes offers more of everything you're looking for in a new home community. Gorgeous countryside, the best schools, easy transit and convenient amenities close by. Say Hello To More At Hello Georgetown Towns & Detached Homes GEORGETOWN OPEN Monday - Thursday 1 to 7 pm Weekends Noon to 5 pm CONTACT Call 437-777-1324 sales@remingtonhomes.com SALES CENTRE . 15640 10th Sideroad, Halton Hills N 403 410 427 407 QEW LAKE ONTARIO 401 HWY 7 HWY 7 GEORGETOWN BRAMPTON MISSISSAUGA VAUGHAN 407 401 HWY 7 10TH SIDE RD. 9 TH LIN E M O U N TA IN VIE W R D . H A R T W E LL R D . STEELES RD. SALES CENTRE M ISSISSAU G A R D . W IN STO N C H U R C H ILL B LVD . W IN STO N C H U R C H ILL B LVD . $800s FROM THE The Halton Regional Po- lice Service is targeting its enforcement initiatives in an effort to address im- paired driving - one of the three big road safety issues in the region. We are leveraging our existing database of im- paired-related information and used business intelli- gence and advanced analyt- ics to refine our deployment model, develop innovative tactics and inform enforce- ment activities. The Halton Regional Po- lice Services' (HRPS) ana- lytics and decision support team created 'heat maps' of impaired offences, which clearly highlighted high- risk times of day and days of the week, enabling us to ramp up enforcement at these peak periods. The service's communi- cation bureau has also rolled out changes, includ- ing the consolidation of sub- codes used to differentiate between 911 calls and non- emergency calls. In October 2017, we be- gan publishing the names of those charged with im- paired-related offences. The hope is that this tactic will act as a deterrent to po- tential offenders, and that it will serve to assist the pub- lic in identifying offenders who may violate their driv- ing suspension. "Impaired driving is a crime under the Criminal Code of Canada," said Sgt. Ryan Snow of the HRPS's traffic services unit. "Citi- zens need to understand that the choice to drive im- paired has serious and long- term consequences." To date, feedback from members of the public in re- sponse to the publication of the names of alleged offend- ers has been overwhelming- ly positive. Strategic partnerships Last spring, the service partnered with MADD Can- ada to launch Campaign 911 across the region. While first introduced in 2007, last year's highly pub- licized launch represented an opportunity to replicate the national success of the campaign at a regional lev- el. The campaign's key mes- sage reminds residents that by calling 911 and reporting suspected impaired drivers to police, we can all play a role in reducing impaired driving crashes, deaths and injuries. HRPS continues to use #Campaign911 and #Ma- keTheCall911 in its public- facing social media messag- es to further awareness. Mobile signs Although MADD Cana- da and HRPS have part- nered since 2009, a new ini- tiative in 2017 saw the place- ment of digital mobile signs at the scene of high-profile impaired-related collisions so that residents could rec- ognize that impaired driv- ing isn't just an issue else- where, and that efforts to re- duce impaired driving are a shared responsibility. MADD has also placed static "Safe Roads . Your Call" signs on regional roads in an effort to remind motorists to report suspect- ed impaired driving. Project Drive Thru As a complement to the broader, overarching ser- vice-wide strategy, local- ized initiatives were devel- oped. Last year, HRPS part- nered with fast food restau- rants in Burlington for Pro- ject Drive Thru. The goal of this unique pilot initiative was to get drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol out from behind the wheel. Project Drive Thru provides drive- thru employees with the tools to quickly and easily identify customers believed to be under the influence and the empowerment to do something about it, such as calling 911. Since the launch of this program in April, there were 12 drive-thru initiated calls in Burlington alone that resulted in impaired charges being laid. This program has received local, national and international attention for its innovation. Another initiative in- cludes RIDE 101 events put on by the service's high school liaison officers. The events serve to edu- cate drivers, particularly young and future drivers, of the responsibilities associ- ated with driving a vehicle and the consequences asso- ciated with mixing alcohol and/or drugs with the oper- ation of that vehicle. Over 500 students were provided with an opportu- nity to wear goggles that simulated the effects of im- pairment by drugs or alco- hol while conducting vari- ous physical ability tests. Outcome As a result of our en- hanced tool kit of enforce- ment tactics, 2,563 roadside tests were conducted in 2017 - double the number of tests conducted in 2016. More than 550 motorists were charged with im- paired-driving related of- fences (driving while ability impaired, care and control, driving over 80 mgs and fail- ure or refusal to provide a sample), which represents a 26 per cent increase over the previous year's statistics. Last year, officers issued 527 roadside suspensions, a 55 per cent increase over 2016. During the Festive RIDE program that runs through- out December, HRPS offi- cers conducted 514 roadside tests, nearly double the number of tests conducted during the 2016 instalment OPINION Police's 'enhanced tool kit' delivers results Enforcement tactics see increase in roadside tests and arrests, writes Duraiappah NISHAN DURAIAPPAH Column l See 2,563, page 28