Sudbury-area woman charged with impaired driving

Efforts to reduce impaired driving in the northeast seem to be working in some communities – provincial police say stats are still high.

A 28-year-old woman from the Greater Sudbury community of Chelmsford faces multiple charges, including impaired driving, after Ontario Provincial Police responded to a traffic complaint on Thursday evening.

OPP said they received the complaint around 8:30 p.m. on April 17 about a small white car travelling westbound and being “all over the road and operating with no lights on” in the Espanola area.

The vehicle was stopped in Blind River a short time later and officers spoke with the driver.

“Police detected the odour of alcoholic beverage on the driver’s breath,” OPP said in a news release.

During the investigation, police learned that the motorist was prohibited from driving.

As a result of the incident, the woman has been charged with three impaired driving offences – including being a novice driver with a blood alcohol concentration (B.A.C.) above zero and impaired operation with a B.A.C. above 80 – along with driving while suspended and two criminal code violations for driving while prohibited.

In addition to the charges, the accused also had their licence suspended for 90 days and the vehicle involved was impounded by police for 45 days at the owner’s expense.

The accused was released and is scheduled to appear in court in Elliot Lake on June 5.

“The OPP remind motorists that no amount of alcohol or drug is acceptable to consume and drive,” said police.

“Should you observe a suspected impaired driver, please dial 911 or contact the Ontario Provincial Police.”