Officers with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, OPP, Anishinabek Police Service, and RCMP pictured together to mark the kick off to the annual Festive RIDE program outside the Sault Police Service Building

The Festive RIDE program will kick into gear this weekend for area police departments.
The head of Traffic Services for city police says during last year’s campaign they checked 900 vehicles and five drivers were charged with impaired related offences.
Sergeant Ray Magnan considers that a good result similar to the previous year’s campaign.
However Sergeant Magnan says an incident a few weeks ago causes him some concern heading into this year’s campaign…

He says with new enforcement powers provided by the federal government he expects the number of impaired driving charges to rise…

Under the measures taking effect December 18th, police will be allowed to demand a roadside breath sample even without suspicion a driver has been drinking.