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rwww.durhamregion.com THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, JANUARY 8, 2003 PAGE 7 ; Toking/driving RIDE charges ? on the rise BY STEPHEN SHAW " Staff Writer DURHAM - An increase in toking and driving made it tougher for police '■ to weed out alcohol-impaired drivers during this year's Festive RIDE program. program. While Durham Regional Police report report a significant drop in the number of drinking and driving charges laid this past holiday season, officers arc 1 doubtful the decrease is due to fewer impaired drivers being on the road. Indeed, the force's 12-officer RIDE team was too busy charging 30 motorists for marijuana possession, leading to a decline in the number of vehicles that were stopped at spotchecks, said acting-Sergeant Mark Stone. In all, regional police inspected 27,066 vehicles and charged .56 people people with driving over the legal alcohol of 80 mgs per 100 mis of blood. Last year, 30,497 vehicles were stopped and 70 people were charged for drinking and driving. "The numbers aren't down because there was less drunk driving, it's just that the officers were tied up with paperwork paperwork (caused by drug charges) and had less time to concentrate on looking looking for drunk drivers," said Sgt. Stone, the officer in charge of the RIDE pro- ■ gram. "Personally, I was shocked by the number of narcotic charges," he said, adding drug seizures during RIDE tripled compared to the last holiday season. In some cases, clouds of smoke from freshly burnt joints billowed out of the windows of vehicles pulling into the roadside spot-checks, the officer officer said. j While most involved small amounts of pot, large stashes were ! seized on a couple of occasions. Sgt. Stone expressed concern over recent reports the federal government plans to decriminalize possession of . marijuana in the coming months, and ' questioned if this news has led to an ' increase in people toking and driving. • He noted there are no laws deter- mining legal marijuana levels for motorists motorists nor is there any current means ■■ of rneasuring the amount of dope in a ■ driver. A portable breathalyzer screen- Ï ing device can measure alcohol levels. r Nonetheless, police can still lay an , impaired driving charge when there , arc "obvious signs" that a driver is - \vasted behind u the, wheel by weed, warned Sgt. Stone, who added 'two ; such people were charged during -RIDE. On the positive side, it was the eighth year in a row without a fatal collision involving alcohol in Durham during the holiday RIDE campaign. 905*721*8638 www.learningbound.ca To have your flyers delivered by Durham's #1 Carrier Force! 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Our boneless salmon fillets are coated in a delicately seasoned creamy dill sauce and then individually frozen. Oven bake or microwave in less than 15 minutes to make an easy and elegant entrée. 142 g/5 oz MAX SALE PRICE $2.19 INDIVIDUALLY ($2.49 REGULAR PRICE) BUY 6 OR $1 99 MORE FOR ONLY leach See our ad in FRIDAY'S paper for more SPECIALS BOWMANVILLE 133 King si.e. 697-1202 OSHAWA 1347 King St. E. at Townline 571 -7701 11 Taunton Rd. W. at Simone 434*4633 WHITBY 3500 Brock St., N. (Beside Devilles) 668*3439 1801 Oundas St. E. (Kendalwood Plaza) 436*3066 www.mmmeatshops.com Sale prices" January 17, SALE PRICE ENDS SATURDAY, JANUARY 11,2003 now 549" LOWEST PRICE OF THE SEASON ON THIS KENMORE ULTRA WASH DISHWASHER Soil separator wash system. 5 wash cycles. #16632. Sears reg. 719.99. ONLY 22.92 MONTHLY* Also available in Black' * Sears stores close to you, close to home Major Appliances are available at the following Greater Toronto locations: North Bolton Dealer Store (905) 857-4390 Markham Furniture, Appliances SHome Improvements Store Don Mills & Steeles (905) 881-6600 Markville Shopping Centre (905) 946-1866 Newmarket Furniture & Appliances Store Yonge St. & Davis Or. (905) 830-0049 Promenade Shopping Centre (905) 731-3388 Richmond Hill Furniture & Appliances Store Hwy. 7 and Yonge St (905) 762-0870 Upper Canada Mall Newmarket (905) 898-2300 Woodbridge Furniture & Appliances Store Hwy. 7 & Weston Rd. (905) 850-6406 East Oshawa Shopping Centre (905) 576-1711 Pickering Town Centre (905) 420-8000 Scarborough Furniture S Appliances Store Kennedy Rd. S Hwy. 401 (416) 332-8577 Scarborough Town Centre (416) 296-0171 Whitby Furniture & Appliances Store Thickson Rd. & Hwy. 401 (905) 579-4048 or 1-800336-8073 Central Toronto Eaton Centre (416) 349-7111 Fairview Mall (416) 502-3737 Gerrard Square (416) 461-9092 Sherway Furniture & Appliances Store 1860 The Oueensway (416) 695-3888 Sherway Gardens (416) 620-6011 Woodbine Shopping Centre (416)798-3800 Yorkdale Shopping Centre (416) 789-1105 Allen Rd. Furniture & Appliances Store Allen Rd. & Sheppard Ave. (416) 398-9947 West Ancaster Furniture & Appliances Store Golf Links Rd. S Legend Crt. (905) 304-1440 Bramalea City Centre (905) 458-1141 Brampton Furniture S Appliances Store 535 Steeles Ave. E. (905) 455-1255 Burlington furniture & Appliances Store Plains Rd. East & 0EW (905) 631-9655 Erin Mills Town Centre (905) 607-2300 Georgetown Dealer Store (90S) 877-5172 Hamilton Centre Mall (905) 545-4741 Limeridge Mall Hamilton (905) 389-4441 Mapleview Centre Burlington (905)632-4111 Milton Dealer Store (905) 878-4104 Mississauga Dealer Store (905) 848-8882 Mississauga Furniture S Appliances Store Hwy. 5 & 403 (905) 820-6801 Oakville Place (905) 8-12-9410 Square One Shopping Centre (905) 270-8111 •Pay in 24 equal monthly payments. Interest tree, until January 2005. On approved credit, only with your Sears Caul. Minimum S200 purchase. $45 ilelerral lee anil all applicable taxes and charges are payable at time of purchase. Monthly payment shown has been rounded up to the nenrest cent. When hilled, any unpaid portion ol your Sears account balance will attract credit charges, commencing the following month. Excludes Hems in our Liquidation/Outlet stores. Catalogue and Website purchases. Oiler ends Saturday, January II. 2003. Ask lor details. NF0I2M203 'U 2003. Soars CdiudJliic,