TERRACE — ~ Drinking drivers -in the northwest have had a bet- ‘ter chance of being’ arrested -than i other. parts of the pro- vince fdr-the past four years, tatistics indicate, The _Teason “is: a _ Portable Portable unit four years, A newer and smaller: version came into general use in . the province last Decémber;’ - It figures . prominenily in CounterAttack campaigns and will at roadblocks again during the’ April 13-May 4 CounterAt- 4 biteathalyzer examination, That roadblock | ability translates into miore charges per thousand vehicles checked than in other parts of the province, During the 1989-90 Christmas _Mare junior officers, tack period: . : o CounterAttack. period, 3,7 A: person blows ° Into ‘the: ‘drinking driving. charges per evice;: ‘trlggering one of three “1,000 vehicles checked were lnid ‘lights.:Green - indicates’. iio “in, the northwest, -That’s com- “ alcohol,’ orange is sufficient for’. pared toa provincial average of “a: 24-hour roadside suspension | ad charges, -. While red means a trip to the. : For 24-hour suspensions, the RCMP detachment fora formal. provincial rate was 6.3 per 1,000 HoT SOUP was the order of the day April Ip as acook training program conducted by the Terrace “Anti. Poverty Group Society held its first soup kitchen for local residents. Connie Johnson and “Theresa Hippisley are two of 16 people inthe training program. The soup kitchen is one way for ic “the trainees to practice what they have learned; - °4.7 in 1990-91, For 24-hour vehicles compared to 5.7 per 1,000 in the northwest, RCMP detachment com- mander inspector Lawrence Yeske calls the Alert a valuable | tool, especially. when used by “A junior member might not have all the experience yet to catch signs of impairment, ‘The Alert changes that,”” he said, “Some guys can hold an awful lot of liquor. They seem OK but when they’re tested they can blow .25 (three times the legal limit. of .08). They're blasted,’” Yeske added, The presence of the portable devices is even more evident when comparing figures for the 1989-90 and 1990-91] Christmas CounterAttack periods at RCMP detachments on the lower mainland. Those detachments only received the devices last December. | charge of the CounterAttack In 1989-90 1.8 drinking driv- program says the rise in charges ing charges were laid for every and suspensions in 1990-91 1,000 vehicles checked, risingto compared to 1989-90 is even The provincial official in suspensions, the figure was 3.8 weather over the last Christmas per 1,000 vehicles checked in season. 1989-90 compared to 10.4 in ‘There was a reduction in the 1990-91, number of roadblocks and Across the province for the vehicles checked because of 1990-91 CounterAttack period, stormy weather, yet the number police laid 2.8 charges for 1,000 of impaired charges and suspen- vehicles checked and issued 6.3 sions increased (for every 1,000 24-hour suspensions for every vehicles checked}. You can see 1,000 vehicles checked. the effectiveness of the roadside The year before, without the screening devices,'’ says Bill widespread distribution of han- Mercer. dheld breathalyzer devices, the One disturbing statistic that figures were 2.1 impaired did bother Mercer was the in- charges and 4.3 24-hour suspen- crease in alcohol-related ac- sions for every 1,000 vehicles cidents over the 1990-91 checked. CounterAttack period. more significant given bad. ‘Terrace Standard, Wednesday, Apri! 10, 1991 — Page Ag. rivers 8 RCMP have a handy aid at drinking and driving roadblocks up here through the Alert blood alcohol testing device. The mini- - breathalyzer gives officers a general indication of a driver's possible impairment level. They've been in the north for the past four years. ie oa Inspector Lawrence Yeske It demonstrated to him that the combination of ‘drinking and driving and bad weather i is deadly. Breath testing figures double legal amount TERRACE — RCMP hope 1991. they’re not In for a repeat of And, RCMP figures show Jan. 1 as they prepare their spr- that the average blood alcohol ing CounterAttack campaign. reading of drivers given a in the first hours of the New “breathalyzer test was more than Year, officers charged three motorists with impaired driv-.- in RCMP.o i ov hieigs: did"slacken’of a bit, WS wee ee in January but it wasn't a good start,” said Sergeant Steve May last week. ' ‘ficer who once worked here is Latest figures from the returning this summer to detachment show there were 15 become the local detachment’s impaired charges laid in Staff Sergeant. January, 19 in February and 26 John Veldman worked here in March. as a Corporal until three years From April 1 to April 4, four ago. impaired charges had been laid He left with a promotion to to start the second quarter of Sergeant for Vernon and has two times the .08 rate: - “The average was .17 of all _ the tests we’ve done. Some blew higher — ,3, for example,”’ said May. ficer. returns. ‘TERRACE — An RCMP Of been in that city since then. Detachment commanding of- ficer Lawrence Yeske welcomed Veldman's return, saying he already knows the area and the community, Veldman replaces Woody Woods who retired late last year. a TOOUR | Path, : VOLUNTEERS: Our heartfelt ~ thanks - .for a job ~ well done! wee Improving ° your odds: ' against - Canada’s; #1 killer, SHUMBER _ LODGE. . "TERRACE ° : 4702 Lakelsa ‘Avenue : Phone 636-8302 a ‘a Tt Qi tay, | oan Bs : “Ras Weyl wie “Sy lconsed Promises my . 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