Police alarmed by spike in impaired driving as four arrested in one night

THUNDER BAY — The city's police service is highly concerned about the number of drivers who continue to drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol. 

Over the weekend, Const. Tom Armstrong, of the Thunder Bay Police Service, posted a video on the police service's Facebook page about the number of drivers under the influence who were apprehended. 

The RIDE campaign launched at the end of November, but Armstrong said the results from Saturday's enforcement efforts are "shocking."

"Tonight was by far the worst we've seen," he said. in the video. 

Armstrong outlined that five officers were on duty as RIDE campaign enforcement officers, and over the course of only a few hours, a total of four people were arrested and charged with impaired driving. 

Primary response officers apprehended one individual who was charged with impaired driving. 

During the first RIDE checkpoint, officers arrested one individual with impaired operation.

Another location was set up, and the first person who came through the RIDE program was arrested for impaired driving.

At this point, of the five officers that started the evening, two remained and arrested another impaired driver shortly after.  

In the video, Armstrong expressed frustration, stating it's "incredibly concerning, clearly our message is not being heard" that drivers continue to drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol and put their safety and the safety of others at risk. 

Promising to keep up with enforcement, these nine arrests over the course of three weekends continue to motivate Armstrong.

He expressed that police officers will continue with proactive enforcement to "help keep our city streets safe."