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Five impaired drivers lose licences on first day of Burnaby RCMP CounterAttack

Five impaired drivers lost their licences on just the first night of Burnaby RCMP’s holiday CounterAttack enforcement last weekend. Other drivers were ticketed for distracted driving, no insurance and no licence.
CounterAttack

Five impaired drivers lost their licences on just the first night of Burnaby RCMP’s holiday CounterAttack enforcement last weekend.

Other drivers were ticketed for distracted driving, no insurance and no licence.

Local Mounties launched their enforcement push on Saturday night and will continue to target alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers throughout the month of December.

“With so many options available for transportation, there really is no excuse to drive impaired,” Cpl. Daniela Panesar said in an RCMP press release. “Plan for a safe ride home by arranging a designated driver, call a taxi or take transit.”

Traffic Services and other police agencies will set up check stops on prime days and times when impaired drivers are most likely to be on the roads and when most impairment-related crashes happen.

Among the officers will be drug recognition experts specially trained to assess drivers who might be impaired by drugs – prescription or otherwise.

On average, 68 people die every year in crashes involving impaired drivers in B.C.

More than half of impairment-related crashes occur on the weekend, between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.

Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley is among the local officials calling for the carnage to stop.

“In my previous work as a firefighter, I've seen firsthand the devastation that impaired driving can cause,” he said in the release. “I join with our police officers in asking that, if you are impaired, ensure you organize a safe ride home.