Nine provincial sanctions were issued during checkstops in the Cochrane area by officers from Cochrane and Stoney Nakoda RCMP on National Impaired Driving Enforcement Day Dec. 4.
Around 300 vehicles were checked at two stops set up at Ghost Lake and in Rocky View County.
Six motorists were found to be impaired and immediately had their vehicles seized and licence suspended. Three were issued warnings.
"It's kind of the kickoff for our Christmas checkstop campaign that we do here throughout the province of Alberta in the month of December," said Alberta RCMP Sgt. Darrin Turnbull.
Turnbull said there were many officers out all day Saturday looking for impaired drivers, and Albertans should expect more of the same throughout the entire holiday season.
"Unfortunately, the reality is that we do find impaired drivers on our roadways at all hours of the day," he said.
Although the pandemic has slowed some social and work gatherings during the holiday season, people are still allowed to get together and alcohol is often involved at said gatherings.
"Some people still make the mistake of drinking and then driving," said Turnbull. "So what we're trying to do is, by doing programs such as this on the first Saturday of December, is get the message out there that drinking and driving is not acceptable at anytime, so plan ahead.
"Before you start drinking, make your decision about how you are going to get home safely and put those plans in place before you start drinking," he said.
During the checkstops, RCMP are doing mandatory alcohol screenings, which means every single person that goes through a checkstop is subject to a Breathalyzer test.
"That law's been in effect since 2018 and it's been very useful for officers in detecting impaired drivers," said Turnbull.
If the breath sample comes back as a caution, or Immediate Roadside Sanction (IRS) WARN, the driver receives a three-day driving suspension and a three-day vehicle seizure.
If a driver provides a sample that comes back as an IRS FAIL, it indicates they are over the legal alcohol limit and results in a 15-month driving suspension, 30-day vehicle seizure and a $1,000 fine.
Ninety-one drivers were removed from the road as a result of Saturday's RCMP checkstops throughout the province.
Through traffic education and enforcement initiatives this December, the Alberta RCMP is working to ensure people arrive home safely during the holiday season.
