The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) concluded its annual holiday traffic safety initiative with a sobering tally, charging 150 motorists with impaired driving offences across eastern Ontario. The Festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign ran from November 20, 2025, to January 1, 2026.
Regional Breakdown of Impaired Driving Charges
In a detailed release, the OPP provided a detachment-by-detachment account of the charges laid. The Ottawa detachment led with 13 impaired driving charges, followed by 22 in Russell County. Other areas saw significant numbers as well, with 8 charges in Renfrew, 9 in Grenville, and 7 in Lanark.
Beyond the criminal charges, officers also issued 28 licence suspensions to drivers who registered in the "warn range" on approved roadside alcohol screening devices. These administrative penalties are separate from the criminal charges laid against the 150 drivers.
Consequences and Campaign Scope
Each of the 150 drivers arrested now faces severe and immediate consequences. Upon arrest, their driver's licence was automatically suspended for 90 days, and their vehicle was impounded for seven days. Additionally, every individual has a scheduled court appearance to answer to the criminal charge.
The scale of the enforcement effort was substantial. OPP East Region spokesperson Bill Dickson noted that preliminary results indicate officers conducted more than 1,600 RIDE programs during the campaign period. Dickson explained the flexibility of these operations, stating, "A RIDE program could be a couple of officers, or it could be a larger event. They can be a major, planned event or it could be done between responding to other types of calls."
New Year Brings Tougher Impaired Driving Laws
The OPP highlighted that new Highway Traffic Act regulations came into effect with the New Year, which are expected to further deter impaired driving through stricter penalties. Key changes include:
- A lifetime driver's licence suspension upon conviction for impaired driving causing death.
- Mandatory remedial education for first-time alcohol or drug-related administrative occurrences.
- Longer roadside licence suspensions for first- and second-time alcohol or drug-related incidents.
- Mandatory minimum licence suspensions for stunt driving convictions are now automatically applied, rather than being left to the court's discretion.
The police force emphasized that while the concentrated Festive RIDE campaign has ended, RIDE programs are a year-round enforcement tool. They can be deployed anywhere, at any time—on major highways, rural roads, or downtown streets.
The results of this campaign underscore a persistent public safety challenge and reinforce the OPP's ongoing commitment to removing impaired drivers from Ontario's roads through education, deterrence, and rigorous enforcement.
