NRPS RIDE Initiative Leads to Impaired Driving Arrest

On Saturday, February 21, 2026, members of the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) conducted RIDE spot checks in the Cities of St. Catharines, Thorold, and Niagara Falls. 

Officers staged both stationary and mobile checkpoints and stopped approximately 350 vehicles and inquired if any of the drivers had consumed alcohol, drugs, or intoxicating substances. 

In total, 24 drivers were required to provide a roadside sample of their breath.  One driver, a 47-year-old from St. Catharines, registered a “Fail” on the approved screening device and was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while exceeding legal blood-alcohol concentration. The driver subsequently provided samples more than twice the legal limit.  Their licence was suspended for 90 days, and their vehicle was impounded for 7 days.  Two additional drivers provided samples of their breath within the “Alert” range, that resulted in a 7-day suspension of their licence.

Police laid 12 provincial charges and issued 4 warnings to drivers.  These charges included driving while under suspension, having an expired permit, using a handheld communication device, and 3 charges for children not being properly secured.

The Niagara Regional Police Service remains committed to reducing impaired driving offences through education and the apprehension of offenders through enforcement programs like RIDE. 

Impaired driving remains the leading criminal offence causing death in Canada. 

This initiative has been made possible, in part, because of funding from the Ministry of the Solicitor General as part of the Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) program.