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4 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday January 14, 2009 www.oakvillebeaver.com Are Halton drivers getting the message? Continued from page 1 exceeding the legal blood alcohol limit during non-RIDE checks by uniformed patrol officers during the same month. Those figures were not available for December 2008 but totaled 22 for all of Halton in December 2007. Halton police say the region saw a seven per cent increase in the number of impaired driving charges laid for all of 2008 across the region. Police are also reporting a five per cent increase in the number of 12- hour licence suspensions issued for drivers approaching the legal blood alcohol limit. The legal blood alcohol limit is defined as 80 milligrams of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of blood. However, a person with a blood alcohol content below the legal level can still be charged by police with the separate offence of impaired driving. Halton's police chief is concerned with the number of impaired drivers in the region. SIDEWALK SALE UP TO FALL/WINTER COLLECTION *Some exceptions apply PETITE FASHIONS Sizes 2-18 70 % off MAPLE GROVE VILLAGE, OAKVILLE (905) 845-0655 "The message doesn't seem to be getting out as well as we would like it to be. People are still drinking and driving despite the efforts of police," said Gary Crowell. "Traffic safety, including keeping impaired drivers off our roads, is one of the top policing priorities for Halton residents." The president of the Halton chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) was disheartened to hear the figures for the 2008 RIDE campaign. "It seems the message isn't getting out," said Chris Borak, who is also a Halton police officer. "Sadly, the chapter's not surprised that the more resources (officers) you put out there the more people are getting caught." The public affairs sergeant for Halton police believes he knows why, at least in part, the impaired driving figures are up significantly. "It's an eye-popper," Sgt. Brian Carr said of the latest RIDE statistics. Carr said Halton police received double the funding from the province this year over last year for RIDE initiatives. About a year ago Halton was able to form a district response unit consisting of a sergeant and four to five officers in their area who conduct spot checks during the holiday RIDE campaign and into the new year. The service now has three different traffic units, which run spot checks all year long. Carr also noted police have a more efficient system for processing suspected drunk drivers, which gets officers back to their road duties quicker. Still, Carr said 11,000 fewer vehicles were stopped this December compared to the previous one because more drivers needed to be put through the system. "We may have more officers, but with more impaired drivers they are off the road processing them. It still takes time." Congratulations to AMEC © Real Rock Band Workshops for Young Musicians New Sessions & Lessons Start This Month · Weekly Sessions & CD Release Performance · Private Guitar Lessons for ALL Levels 905-484-7331 www.rocksessions.ca SANTOS FC ONTARIO Learn to play like the Brazilians! International Soccer Academy! Professional Coaching! Year round training! International Tournaments! And much more!! One town. One heart. One Way. www.uwoakville.org For additional information contact: 905 828-8366 or email info@santosfcontario.ca WWW.SANTOSFCONTARIO.CA