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Expect to be pulled over and to take a breathalyzer test at check stops – Lethbridge Police Service

Dec 23, 2018 | 10:04 AM

LETHBRIDGE – Saturday evening around 9:30 p.m. Lethbridge Police set up one of their first check stops since stricter impaired driving laws came into effect Dec. 18, giving police across the country the authority to demand a breathalyzer test from anyone they choose, regardless of whether they display signs of impairment. 

The speed with which LPS set up their check-stop is remarkable. A police truck pulls over to the side of Scenic Drive South just before 9:30 p.m. and puts some markers down on the road. Within minutes, about half a dozen other marked and unmarked vehicles pull ahead of the truck, angle park about 15 feet apart- taking up the slow lane for about the length of a city block, and several “stalls” are quickly created to pull over drivers. 

Acting Sgt. Brent Paxman says in a given night, they can pull over between 400 and 500 vehicles. And because there are several areas created for drivers to pull into, he says everyone pulled over should expect to be asked to take a breathalyzer test.

“We stop as many (vehicles) as we can. So if you’re in line, if an officer is free, they’re going to wave in the next vehicle. If for some reason all the officers are busy, then those vehicles can slowly go by, until an officer can pull them in.”

Paxman explains that for those vehicles pulled over, drivers will be delayed several minutes and they’ll try to pull over as many vehicles as possible.

“Now that we have the mandatory alcohol screening, it’s going to take anywhere from five minutes to 10 minutes depending on the vehicle…but we try and get you out and on the road as quickly as we can, not to inconvenience you as much as we can.”

MADD Lethbridge and Area Chapter President Anita Huchala says volunteers are really hoping to see a big decrease in impaired driving. For those who pass the tests, they will receive a “goodie bag.”

“We have a little bit of propaganda to explain to them (drivers) about the new impaired driving laws also we have partnered with Canadian Blood Services and have a donation card in there, a MADD volunteer card and a sweet treat this time of year.”

Huchala has a personal connection as well to the cause. One of her teachers was killed by an impaired driver.

“I lost my grade one teacher to an impaired driver and it impacted me. And it just brought forward a lot of memories and that’s why I stepped forward and chose to volunteer with MADD.”

For those who believe they can circumvent the check-stops, Paxman says over the holidays, police will be out in force checking drivers not only at the stops, but throughout the city day and night. And there won’t likely be just one check stop location during the evenings.

“We’ll be at this (any given location) for a couple of hours and then we will switch it up and find a different location and do that for a few more hours. But we will do this from 9 p.m. until 3 a.m.”