6 July 2023 – Charlottetown, PEI
Summer means an noticeable increase in cars on Island highways and PEI RCMP are working with a suite of tools to keep roads safe.
Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS) authorizes police to demand a breath sample from any driver lawfully pulled over, whether or not they suspect that the driver has recently consumed alcohol. This would only be done after the person has been lawfully stopped, under common or provincial law. For instance, under provincial highway traffic acts, law enforcement can stop drivers at random to check licence validity, vehicle fitness and sobriety.
Police officers regularly conduct numerous roadside checkpoints throughout the year and the upcoming weekends will be no different. Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death and injury in Canada. While this type of screening may be unfamiliar to some motorists, it is a proven public safety measure that will deter and better detect alcohol-impaired drivers.
"We want everyone to have a great time on PEI all summer long. There are so many great memories to make here. We are asking everyone to plan ahead, have a designated driver or use public transportation. At all of our check stops we can use mandatory alcohol screening and it's just one of the tools we use to keep Island roads safe for everyone."
Constable Stephen Duggan – PEI Integrated Traffic Unit