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The Brampton Guardian
Grits pump cash into Peel RIDE
Friday August 15 2008
PAM DOUGLAS
The provincial government has given Peel police more cash to boost the department’s year-round RIDE program.

Peel has been given $57,034 to support year-round spot checks, part of the province’s commitment to double RIDE program funding to police services across Ontario to $2.4 million. Provincial funding helps cover the cost of officers’ paid duty and overtime for additional RIDE spot checks.

News of the grant came from Brampton Springdale MPP Linda Jeffrey.

“Public awareness on driver impairment has risen over the last decade, but there is nothing like the sight of the RIDE Program on the horizon to bring the issue to everyone’s attention,” Jeffrey said in a news release.

Drinking and driving is a leading cause of criminal traffic deaths, according to Rick Bartolucci, Ontario’s community safety and correctional services minister.

In Ontario last year, police checked more than 500,000 drivers in spot checks, resulting in 466 drivers charged.

Peel police Chief Mike Metcalf said combating drunk driving is a priority for Peel police.

“This funding announcement will enhance our existing programs to detect and apprehend those who choose to drink and drive, and will keep our streets safe,” he said.

Last year, Peel police charged 1,296 drivers with being drunk behind the wheel.

And just two months ago, Darshanjit Singh Buttar, 33, of Brampton was killed in a multi-vehicle crash on Queen Street East that police say was alcohol-related.

Regan Senthamilselvan, 22, of Oshawa was charged with impaired driving causing death and causing bodily harm in the crash near Goreway Drive that sent a car careening into two others at a gas station pump.

Between 1996 and 2005, the number of serious injuries from drinking and driving related crashes has dropped 51 per cent, according to provincial figures.

RIDE began in 1977 as Reduce Impaired Driving in Etobicoke. It is now a province-wide campaign and the name has been tweaked to stand for Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere.