Police “Light Up The Province” on Saturday, December 2, as part of Counter Attack Impaired Driving Month in BC.

B.C., BC Highway Patrol

2023-12-01 09:00 PST

Each year, the month of December is associated with holidays, gatherings with family and friends, and the festive spirit. December also marks the provincial Winter Impaired Driving Enforcement Campaign, where police agencies across the province will be stepping up impaired driving enforcement to ensure that motorists are partaking in these festivities responsibly.

Nighttime silhouette of police officer with red and blue lights in the background

To kick off the Winter Impaired Driving Enforcement Campaign, police will Light up the Province, throughout the evening of Saturday, December 2. Motorists across BC can expect to see an enhanced level of impaired driving enforcement via impaired driving check stops coupled with a heightened police presence targeting impaired drivers.

Throughout the Lower Mainland, for example, all police agencies will once again will be working together to conduct impaired check stops. Nearly 250 police officers from the RCMP and Municipal Police Departments will be conducting 89 impaired driving check stops along Highway 1 from the Fraser Valley through to the North Shore, beginning at 8:00 PM. The same enhanced check stops will be conducted on Vancouver Island, in the Okanagan, Kootenays, and in Northern parts of the province.

While December 2 will have a large contingent of officers conducting road checks for impaired driving, police will remain on enhanced impaired driving enforcement through December.

You can absolutely expect to see police enforcement if you choose to drive impaired by alcohol and/or drugs, says Chief Superintendent Holly Turton, Officer in Charge of BC Highway Patrol. To avoid this plan ahead and choose a safe ride home.

According to C/Supt. Turton, Impaired Driving remains a leading cause of death in our province. This is something that needs to change and we can only do that if we all play our part.

BC Highway Patrol invites everyone to follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @BCHwyPatrol, as well as BC RCMP on Facebook for updates throughout the evening as we work to keep our highways safe for everyone on December 2 and beyond. BC Highway Patrol wishes everyone a safe holiday season!

Note to Media: C/Supt Turton will be available for media interviews or comments on December 2 at 8:30PM. She will be located at the check stop located on Grandview Highway over Highway 1. Directions for media: Exit Boundary Road at Regent, take regent Road around to Esmond, find parking along Esmond and walk into the road check area.

BC Highway Patrol