Two Arrests and Five Roadside Licence Suspensions During Weekend RIDE

On January 1, 2026, the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) made changes that aim to combat alcohol and drug impaired driving and strengthen accountability for offenders.  One of those changes is an increase in the administrative licence suspensions for first- and second-time alcohol occurrences.  Prior to 2026, a driver who registered an “Alert” on a roadside screening device, received a three-day licence suspension for their first offence.  This has now increased to a seven-day licence suspension. 

On Friday, January 16, 2026, members of the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) conducted R.I.D.E. spot checks in the Cities of Welland and Niagara Falls.  Throughout the night officers stopped approximately 300 vehicles and inquired if any of the drivers had consumed any alcohol or drugs earlier in the evening.  In total, 18 drivers were required to provide a sample of their breath for analysis. A total of five drivers provided a sample, which resulted in an “Alert”, and subsequently received a seven-day licence suspension.

While on patrol in the City of Niagara Falls, police stopped a vehicle after it was observed pulling out of the parking lot of a licensed establishment.  The driver was suspected of consuming alcohol earlier in the night, so a roadside screening device was administered.  As a result, the 55-year-old male driver from Niagara Falls, provided a sample of breath for analysis and registered a “Fail”.  He was subsequently arrested, had his vehicle seized for seven days and licence suspended for 90 days. 

Another driver was stopped in the City of Welland at the R.I.D.E. checkpoint and falsely identified herself to avoid arrest, as she had an outstanding warrant out of Haldimand County.  Further investigation revealed that she was also a prohibited and suspended driver.  She was subsequently arrested, charged accordingly and returned to OPP Haldimand.

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

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

This initiative has been made possible, in part, as a result of grant funding from the Ministry of the Solicitor General as part of the Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (R.I.D.E) program.