Over the limit motorist who stopped to assist with suspected impaired driver fails roadside test and receives 90 day driving prohibition

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A 50-year-old Qualicum Beach motorist who stopped to assist with a possible impaired driver and failed a roadside alcohol screening test themselves, received a 90-day driving prohibition and had their vehicle impounded for 30 days.

At 5:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, a possible impaired driver in Qualicum Beach was reported to Oceanside RCMP. The suspected impaired driver had pulled over to the side of Fern Road near Berwick Road and a second motorist stopped to prevent them from driving.

When officers arrived, they smelled alcohol on the breath of the second driver and administered a roadside alcohol screening test, which the driver failed. The driver received an immediate 90-day driving prohibition and had their vehicle impounded for 30 days. Meanwhile, the motorist reported to have been driving impaired was confirmed to be sober but having difficulty driving in the dark.

Two further immediate 90-day driving prohibitions and 30-day vehicle impoundments were issued by Oceanside RCMP officers on New Year’s Eve; one for a driver who refused a roadside alcohol screening test and one for a driver who failed a roadside alcohol screening test after a single vehicle crash.

Unfortunately, there are many people who still believe it is okay to drink and drive, says Sergeant Shane Worth of the Oceanside RCMP. Impaired driving is an offence, it is dangerous to everyone using the roads and our officers are targeting impaired drivers every day of the year to take them off the street.