Impaired drivers nabbed
Belleville police on patrol in separate areas of the city arrested a couple of drivers who had too much to drink, Monday evening.
Around 9 p.m. an officer conducting radar clocked a pickup truck driven at a high rate of speed on Highway 62 near Ashley Street. The vehicle was pulled over and it was determined the motorist had been consuming alcohol.
Following an investigation, the driver was arrested.
Charged with Having over 80mgs of Alcohol in his blood was Timothy Wellman, 56, of Stirling.
Wellman was issued a December 28th court date. His licence and was suspended for 90 days and his vehicle was impounded.
About an hour later, around 10:20 p.m., an officer on Palmer Road in the city’s west end noticed a vehicle driving in circles on a residential lawn.
Despite police activating emergency equipment in an attempt to pull the vehicle over, it continued along Harder Driver at a slow rate of speed. The vehicle came to a stop a short distance away and the driver was spoken to by police and arrested.
Charged with impaired driving is Richard Johnson, 75, of Trenton. Johnson was issued a December 28th court date. His licence was suspended for 90 days and his vehicle was impounded.
Operation Red Nose and RIDE
With the holiday season upon us, Belleville Police would like to remind the public to think ahead if alcohol may be in the evening plans.
Operation Red Nose is a unique December-only designated driver program that operates for free.
When you call your local Operation Red Nose headquarters, a three-person driving team will be dispatched to pick up you, your passengers and your car.
You and your fellow passengers will be driven to your destination in your vehicle and followed by a Operation Red Nose escort.
This service operates for free (donations are accepted) in an effort to keep our community and roadway safe from drivers who may have had too much alcohol.
For more information, visit rednosequinte.ca or call 613-962-4334.
In addition to Operations Red Nose and local patrol efforts, the Belleville Police will also be conducting regular Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) programs throughout the region at various times, including afternoons and weekdays.
At these roadside checks, police determine whether drivers are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Designed in response to an increase in impaired driving collisions and fatalities, the program serves as both a deterrent and enforcement initiative.
So what happens when I pull up to a checkpoint?
- Upon entering the checkpoint, drivers must roll down their window and speak to the officer;
- If the officer believes the driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they can ask the driver to participate in a roadside sobriety test or breathalyzer test.
- If the officer determines there is no need for either, the motorist is allowed to proceed.
- For the vast majority of motorists, the entire stop and process can take as little as 15 seconds.
