Police stop 10 impaired drivers in fourth week of checkstop campaign

The Winnipeg Police Service stopped 272 vehicles during the fourth week of its annual holiday checkstop campaign.

Ten of the drivers stopped between Dec. 21 and Sunday were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the WPS said Tuesday. Two were given an immediate roadside prohibition for failing a breathalyzer, while eight were given a warning based on their blood-alcohol level.

All the numbers are down significantly from the previous weeks of the program, which will continue until New Year’s Day. Officers stopped 613 vehicles in Week 1, 547 in Week 2 and 1,183 in Week 3. Of those drivers, 20, 22 and 36, respectively, were found to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, police said previously.

Every driver stopped at a checkstop is required to provide a breath sample, while drug-screening equipment will be used to check for cannabis impairment, the WPS said.